
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest living species of turtle, with a weight of up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) and a length of more than 6.5 feet (2 meters). This makes it one of the largest living reptiles in the world. The leatherback sea turtle is unique among sea turtles in that it lacks a bony carapace (upper shell). Instead, it has a leathery carapace that gives the turtle its name. The turtle's shell is highly specialised for diving to extreme depths, and its large body size helps it maintain its temperature in cold water.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Scientific Name | Dermochelys coriacea |
Common Name | Leatherback |
Length | 48-96 inches (121-244 cm) or 4 to 6 feet (130-183 cm) or up to 7 feet (2.13 m) or 8.8 feet (2.68 m) |
Weight | 660-2,000 pounds (290-907 kg) or 300-500 kg or 500-1,100 kg |
Diet | Jellyfish, seaweed, fish, crustaceans, tunicates, juvenile fishes, amphipods, and other marine invertebrates |
Habitat | Tropical and temperate marine waters worldwide |
Nesting | Every 2-3 years, 4-7 times per season, with an average of 80-100 fertilized eggs per nest |
Status | Federally endangered in the U.S. |
What You'll Learn
The leatherback sea turtle is the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile. It is the largest living turtle species, growing up to seven feet long and weighing up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg). Some sources state that the leatherback sea turtle can weigh up to 2,200 pounds (997 kg). This makes it one of the largest living reptiles in the world.
The leatherback sea turtle is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys and family Dermochelyidae. It is easily distinguished from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell. Instead, its carapace (upper shell) is covered by oily flesh and flexible, leather-like skin, giving it a leathery appearance with seven longitudinal ridges. Its shell is highly specialised for diving to extreme depths of up to 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) and can withstand high hydrostatic pressures.
The leatherback sea turtle is a deep-sea diver and can reach depths of over 4,000 feet, staying down for up to 85 minutes. It is also the fastest-moving non-avian reptile, capable of reaching speeds of 22 miles per hour (35 kilometres per hour) in water.
The leatherback sea turtle has a global range and is found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It is the most widely distributed of all sea turtles and has the widest global distribution of all reptile species, and possibly of any vertebrate.
The leatherback sea turtle is a federally endangered species in the US and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its population is rapidly declining due to various human activities such as egg poaching, entanglement in fishing gear, marine pollution, and climate change.
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They can weigh up to 2,000 pounds
Weighing up to 2,000 pounds, the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest living turtle species. In fact, it is the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile in the world. To put its weight into perspective, a male leatherback found on the coast of Wales in 1998 weighed over a ton. Another leatherback, this time found on a Pakistani beach, weighed 650kg (1,433 pounds).
The leatherback's enormous weight is supported by its large, teardrop-shaped body. Its front flippers are also the largest in proportion to its body among extant sea turtles. These adaptations enable the leatherback to swim powerfully through the water, reaching speeds of up to 22mph (35.28km/h).
Leatherback sea turtles are also the deepest-diving marine animals, reaching depths of up to 4,200 feet (1,280m). Their large size helps them to withstand the extreme pressure of deep ocean waters. Their soft, leathery shell, which is unique among sea turtles, is flexible and almost rubbery to the touch. It is made up of a mosaic of small, interlocking bones covered by a thick layer of oil-saturated tissue.
Leatherback sea turtles are found in tropical and temperate waters across the globe, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They can survive in cold waters, thanks to their large body size, high oil content, and counter-current heat exchange system, which help them retain body heat.
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Their weight is impacted by their diet of jellyfish
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching weights of up to 500kg (1,100lb). Its diet consists almost entirely of jellyfish, which are low in energy. This means that leatherback sea turtles must consume a large volume of jellyfish to meet their energy requirements.
The leatherback sea turtle's diet of jellyfish has a significant impact on its weight. This is because jellyfish are a low-energy food source, so leatherback sea turtles must consume large quantities to meet their energy requirements. The turtles' weight gain from this diet is evident in their long-distance migrations, where they travel thousands of kilometres between breeding and foraging grounds.
The leatherback sea turtle's diet of jellyfish allows it to maintain a high body temperature and enables it to dive to great depths. The jellyfish's low-energy content means that leatherback sea turtles must consume a large volume of prey to meet their energy needs. This results in an increased weight for the turtles, which can reach several hundred kilograms.
The leatherback sea turtle's diet of jellyfish has implications for its migration patterns and energy intake. The low-energy content of jellyfish means that leatherbacks must consume large quantities to sustain their migrations and meet their daily energy requirements. This diet contributes to the turtles' weight gain, with some individuals weighing up to 640kg.
The leatherback sea turtle's weight is significantly influenced by its diet of jellyfish. Jellyfish are a low-energy food source, so leatherback sea turtles must consume large volumes to meet their energy needs. This results in weight gain for the turtles, and their weight can vary from 250kg to 700kg. The diet of jellyfish enables the leatherback sea turtle to maintain a high body temperature and facilitates deep diving.
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Human activity is a threat to leatherback sea turtles
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching weights of up to 1,100 lbs (500 kg). Human activity poses a significant threat to the survival of these magnificent creatures. Here are some ways in which human actions endanger leatherback sea turtles:
Direct Harvest of Eggs, Juveniles, and Adults: The exploitation of leatherback sea turtle nests, especially in Southeast Asia, has led to a sharp decline in local nesting populations. In Malaysia, for example, the consumption of turtle eggs is considered a delicacy, contributing to the local extinction of leatherbacks. Additionally, the killing of adult turtles and the collection of eggs in Indonesia have resulted in significant population decreases throughout the region.
Incidental Capture in Fishing Gear: Leatherback sea turtles are often accidentally caught in fishing gear, such as shrimp trawl nets, longlines, and gillnets. As fishing activity expands, the risk of entanglement and drowning for these turtles increases. While turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been mandated in shrimp trawls in the US, they are not required in other parts of the world, making bycatch a critical issue for leatherbacks.
Degradation of Nesting and Marine Habitats: Sea turtles depend on beaches for nesting, and human activities such as coastal development, vehicle traffic, and uncontrolled construction directly destroy or disturb these habitats. Additionally, sea turtle feeding grounds, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, are damaged by activities like land clearing and agricultural runoff.
Light Pollution: Leatherback sea turtle hatchlings are strongly attracted to light, and artificial lighting from street lamps and buildings can disorient them, causing them to crawl away from the beach and towards potential dangers like dehydration, exhaustion, and predators.
Pollution: Solid waste, chemicals, and pollutants from human activities, such as wastewater discharge, fishing nets, and fertilizer runoff, enter the ocean and harm sea turtles. Leatherback sea turtles are particularly susceptible to ingesting plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish, which can lead to intestinal blockage and death. Chemical pollution, including high levels of phthalates, has also been detected in their eggs.
Vessel Strikes: Commercial and recreational vessels pose a significant threat to leatherback sea turtles, especially in shipping lanes and during peak tourism months. Boat collisions can cause injuries, including amputated flippers, fractured shells, and brain injuries, affecting the turtles' ability to forage, migrate, and reproduce.
These human activities have severe consequences for leatherback sea turtle populations, and conservation efforts are crucial to ensure their survival.
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They are the largest living turtle species
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest living turtle species. It is sometimes called the lute turtle, leathery turtle or luth. Leatherbacks can reach lengths of up to 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) and weigh up to 500 kilograms (1,100 lb). Some reports claim that leatherbacks can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (907 kg) or even 2,019 pounds (916 kg). They are the heaviest non-crocodilian reptiles.
Leatherback turtles are easily distinguished from other sea turtles by their lack of a bony shell. Instead, their carapace (upper shell) is covered by oily flesh and flexible, leather-like skin, for which they are named. The shell has seven distinct ridges running from front to back, and hatchlings have white striping on these ridges and on the edges of their flippers.
Leatherbacks are the only remaining representatives of a family of turtles that traces its evolutionary roots back more than 100 million years. They are found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They can also traverse as far north as Canada and Norway and as far south as New Zealand and South America.
Leatherback turtles are deep-sea divers, able to reach depths of over 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) and hold their breath for more than an hour. They are also the fastest-moving non-avian reptiles, able to swim at speeds of up to 21.92 mph (35.28 km/h).
Leatherback turtles are endangered, with their biggest threats being the result of human activity. Their eggs are often illegally poached, and they are also susceptible to entanglement in fishing gear and marine pollution. Climate change is also a major threat, with beach erosion and warming temperatures impacting the long-term reproductive success of the leatherback population.
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Frequently asked questions
A leatherback sea turtle can weigh anywhere between 290 and 1,100 kg (660 to 2,000+ lbs).
The leatherback sea turtle is the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile and the largest living turtle species.
Leatherback sea turtles in the Caribbean weighed an average of 384 kg (847 lbs), while those in French Guiana weighed an average of 339.3 kg (748 lbs).
Leatherback sea turtles typically weigh between 46 and 50 grams when they hatch. As adults, they can weigh up to 2,000 lbs.
The weight of a leatherback sea turtle, combined with its large body size and unique carapace, enables it to withstand high hydrostatic pressures when diving to depths of up to 4,200 feet.