Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), also known as lute turtles or simply the luth, are the world’s largest living turtles. They derive their name from their tough, rubbery shell made of cartilage-like tissues.

With a length of 1.8 to 2.2m and a weight of up to 900kg, these sea reptiles can swim at 35km/h in water. They are also well known for their exceptional diving abilities, diving to depths of about 4000ft. On top of that, they can also stay underwater for up to 85 minutes at a time.

Leatherback sea turtles are migrant creatures, traveling more than 10,000 miles between their nesting and feeding grounds. These sea turtles inhabit all of the world’s oceans. However, they feed in cold waters and breed in tropical waters.

These turtles get their name from their unique, leathery shell, which is made up of a layer of tough, rubbery skin with embedded bony plates instead of the hard, bony shell found in other turtle species.

What is the Biggest Turtle in the World?

The biggest turtle in the world is the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). These sea turtles can grow up to seven feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds, making them the largest reptiles on Earth. The leatherback turtle is also the only sea turtle without a hard shell, making it unique among the species.

Appearance

The leatherback turtle has dark-colored, leathery skin with seven ridges running down its back. Its shell is made of a layer of small bones covered by a layer of tough, rubbery skin. The shell is flexible and can bend as the turtle moves, making it easier for it to swim. The turtle’s head is elongated and has a pointed beak-like mouth that it uses to catch its prey.

The leatherback turtle has large flippers that it uses to swim through the water. Its front flippers can be up to 10 feet long, which is longer than any other sea turtle. The flippers have a distinctive shape that resembles a curved scythe, which helps the turtle to swim efficiently.

Habitat and Habits

Leatherback turtles are found in all of the world’s oceans except for the Arctic and Antarctic. They prefer to inhabit the open ocean but also come to shore to lay their eggs. Leatherback turtles can travel long distances; some have been known to swim over 10,000 miles in a year. Nesting in the United States usually occurs in Florida, Puerto Rico, and St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands).

Leatherback turtles are solitary animals, and they spend most of their time in the water. They are able to dive to depths of up to 4,200 feet, which is deeper than any other sea turtle. They can also regulate their body temperature, allowing them to survive in cold water.

In the Western Pacific, leatherbacks feed off the Pacific coast of North America. Afterward, they move across the Pacific Ocean to lay their eggs in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Usually, they avoid coral reefs.

Diet

Surprisingly, this large and active animal mainly survives on jellyfish. The lute turtles’ jaws are soft and frail. Thus, they usually feed on soft-bodied open ocean prey like jellyfish. Their backward-pointing spines allow them to comfortably swallow the jellyfish and prevent it from flowing out.

Leatherback sea turtles consume large quantities of food relative to their body size. For instance, an adult leatherback sea turtle can consume as many jellyfish as their body weight in a day.

 In addition to jellyfish, they also feed on sea cucumbers, cephalopods, sea urchins, and snails.

The turtle’s mouth and esophagus are lined with sharp papillae that help it to hold onto slippery prey. The turtle’s stomach also has spines that help it to break down the jellyfish into smaller pieces.

Reproduction

Leatherback sea turtles have a long life span and reach maturity relatively late.

Although their sexual maturity age is uncertain, it is estimated to range between 16-30 years for females and around 10-12 years for males.

During mating, males locate a female by following her scent. They use their long claws to grip the sides of her shell. The mating typically occurs offshore, in deep waters.

After mating, the females make their way to the shore to lay their eggs. On reaching the beach, they dig a hole in the sand where they lay their eggs. They lay their eggs at night.

Leatherback turtles are unique among sea turtles because they do not have a hard shell, which allows them to dig deeper nests in the sand. The female can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, and she will lay multiple clutches of eggs throughout the nesting season.

Threats and Conservation

The leatherback turtle is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The biggest threats to the leatherback turtle are human activities such as hunting, egg harvesting, and pollution. Climate change is also a major threat to the species because it affects the turtles’ nesting sites and the availability of their prey.

Fisheries bycatch is another threat to their survival. They often get caught in fishing nets and lines as they come up to the surface to breathe. As a result, many turtles get entangled, leading to their death.

Another significant threat to them is habitat loss. This is mainly through coastal development and erosion, which destroy their nesting beaches, making it hard for them to lay their eggs.

Conservation efforts for the leatherback turtle include protecting nesting sites, reducing fishing activities that harm the turtles, and reducing pollution in their habitats. 

In some cultures, their eggs are considered a delicacy and are usually harvested for human consumption. This extensive egg collection can lead to their extinction.

Some countries have also implemented programs to protect turtle eggs and hatchlings and to educate the public about the importance of conservation.

Facts about the Leatherback Sea Turtle 

Here are some interesting facts about the leatherback turtle:

1. The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle species on the planet.
2. Leatherback turtles can dive to depths of up to 4,200 feet, which is deeper than any other sea turtle.
3. Leatherback turtles can swim up to speeds of 22 miles per hour.
4. The leatherback turtle is the only sea turtle without a hard shell.
5. Leatherback turtles can travel long distances, and some have been known to swim over 10,000 miles in a single year.
6. Leatherback turtles have existed for over 100 million years, making them one of the oldest reptile species on Earth.
7. Leatherback turtles are able to migrate thousands of miles to return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs.
8. The largest leatherback turtle ever recorded was found in Wales in 1988. It measured nine feet long and weighed 2,020 pounds.
9. Leatherbacks can remain submerged in water for as long as 85 minutes.

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