The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) stands out as the largest living turtle and heaviest reptile, excluding crocodiles. An astonishing creature, it can reach sizes of up to 2.57 meters (8 feet 5 inches) in length and can weigh as much as 650 kilograms (1,433 pounds). Unlike other turtles, this species doesn't possess a hard shell but instead has a supple, leather-like skin. It belongs exclusively to the genus Dermochelys and the family Dermochelyidae.
This turtle's distinctive dark coloration, coupled with five longitudinal ridges on its body, allows it to thrive in the world's tropical oceans. Its streamlined teardrop-shaped body, with large flippers, facilitates powerful and efficient swimming. A typical dive for a leatherback turtle can be into the deep sea, with recorded depths reaching up to 1,250 meters. Despite its epipelagic nature, it often navigates depths of less than 200 meters to forage primarily on jellyfish and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Its feeding behavior is intriguing, as instead of teeth, it has throat spines to securely hold its prey.
Leatherbacks have a vast distribution range, found as far north as Norway and Alaska and as far south as 🇳🇿 New Zealand and 🇿🇦 South Africa, even extending into Arctic waters. However, populations have been declining, especially in the 🌊 Pacific Ocean, where their breeding intervals are longer than those in the Atlantic. Unfortunately, these turtles are prone to threats from human activities, such as pelagic fisheries, which is a leading cause of mortality, exacerbated by the ingestion of plastic debris often mistaken for jellyfish.
Reproduction for leatherbacks is fascinating, with mating occurring in the sea. Females come ashore, often on different sandy beaches, to lay eggs. Notably, they undertake this nesting process every two to three years, laying as many as 126 eggs per clutch. Incubation lasts between 60 and 78 days, with success hinging significantly on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
The nesting process necessitates precision, as the female digs with her flippers at night, laying eggs in dark, contrasting sandy regions near forests to avoid predators and heat exposure. Unfortunately, despite laying numerous eggs over a season, a significant number do not develop into hatchlings. Hatchlings emerge after approximately two months, their gender determined by the nest's temperature.
While the lifespan of these marine marvels is uncertain, estimates suggest they could live anywhere between 30 to over 100 years. When they die, their bodies provide microecosystems for many terrestrial organisms. Conservation efforts are crucial to sustaining these ancient creatures, whose lineage traces back over 110 million years. Despite having no continuous commercial demand, their survival faces ongoing pressure from environmental and man-made challenges.
Why it's threatened
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
