Leatherback Turtle

The largest of all sea turtles, and one of the largest reptiles on earth, the leatherback turtle ranges in size from 4-8 feet in length (1.2 - 2.4 meters) and weighs between 500-2,000 pounds (225 - 900 kg). The average adult measures in between 5-6 feet (1.5 - 1.8 m) and weighs 600-800 pounds (270 - 360 kg).

The oldest of all sea turtle species, it has been around for more than 150 million years! They have survived the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and have thrived until the last several decades when human interactions have taken a major toll.

Where (and When) to SEE:

Trinidad & Tobago: (March to July)

Costa Rica: (March to June)

Cahuita
Gandoca
Parismina
Playa Grande (October - March)

Suriname: Galibi - Mongabay.com Article (Feb - August)

Gabon: Various Sites - Gabon Sea Turtle Partnership (Oct - April)

Ghana: Ada Foah - Hlami Association (Nov - March)

Indonesia: Jamursba-Medi (April - September)

Facts & Tidbits

Leatherbacks can consume twice their own body weight in prey per day, feeding exclusively on soft-bodied invertebrates like jellyfish and tunicates. Learn more about their diet.
They have stiff, downward curving spines (also known as papillae) in their mouth and throat which help them to capture and swallow their prey.
Unlike all other sea turtles, these giants do not possess a carapace (shell) covered with hard scales, also known as scutes. Their smooth, leathery skin covers a flexible matrix of bone. This specialized, flexible carapace allows them to dive to great depths unlike other species.
Their back is blackish in color and dotted with white, gray, and pinkish blotches.
Leatherbacks also have distinct longitudinal ridges that run the length of their carapace.
Their widespread distribution and ability to tolerate cold water are due to thermoregulatory adaptations (called gigantothermy) which allow them to maintain their core body temperature.
They are considered Critically Endangered around the world by the IUCN Red List and listed as Endangered in the US.
Their scientific name is Dermochelys coriacea.

Distribution

Leatherbacks have the widest distribution of all sea turtle species. They are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In the Pacific, their range extends as far north as Alaska and south beyond the southernmost tip of New Zealand.

In the Atlantic, they can be found as far north as Norway and the Arctic Circle and south to the tip of Africa. They are mainly pelagic (open ocean) wanderers but migrate to warm tropical and subtropical coastal regions to mate and nest.

Major Threats

The eastern Pacific nesting population has declined by over 90% in the last two decades due primarily to incidental capture in commercial fishing gear, particularly longlines and gillnets. They are also vulnerable to harvest of eggs and meat for human consumption in many parts of the world.

These ancient creatures are also vulnerable to ingestion of floating marine debris like discarded plastics. Plastic bags and balloons resemble their favorite prey, jellyfish and when ingested may block their digestive tract, preventing them from eating.

Did You Know?

The largest one on record washed up dead on the coast of Wales (UK) in 1988. It weighed over 2000 lbs and measured 9 feet in length! It was estimated to be approximately 100 years old. The turtle had been drowned from entanglement in fishing gear.  
They can dive deeper than 4000 ft (roughly 1,200 m)! Sperm Whales, Beaked Whales, and Elephant seals are the only other known animals that dive deeper.
Researchers recently tracked an adult female more than 12,000 miles (19,000 kilometers) using satellite telemetry, from Indonesia to Oregon, one of the longest recorded migrations of any vertebrate animal. Read an article about this incredible journey.

What is SEE Turtles?

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