Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is unique among sea turtles because, unlike other sea turtles who have a carapace of hard bony plates, the leatherback's carapace is flexible and rubbery in texture. The leatherback's carapace blends into its plastron, making the turtle barrel-shaped.The leatherback is the largest of all extant sea turtles, growing to lengths of up to 7ft. It has long front flippers that make it an excellent swimmer and distinct ridges that line its carapace and plastron. The leatherback maintains its core body temperature several degrees warmer than surrounding water, enabling it to inhabit wider regions than other sea turtles (Source: Turtle Trax).

Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Testudines
• Family: Dermochelyidae
• Genus: Dermochelys
• Species: Dermochelys coriacea (Source: Fontanes)

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Habitat:

Open water, palaegic.

Range:

Warm oceans around the world.

Diet:

Fish, jellyfish, crustaceans. Unlike other species of marine turtles (who feed close to shore), leatherbacks feed in open water (Source: Fontane).

Status:

Red List Category & Criteria (ver 2.3, 1994): CR A1abd. Critically endangered with a recent population reduction of greater than 80% (Source: Red List Standards).

Sources:

• Burnie, D. and D.E. Wilson. Animal. Dorling Kindersley. London. 2001.
• 'The Leatherback Turtle' (On-line), Turtle Trax. Accessed February 22 2006.
• Fontanes, F. 2003. 'Dermochelys coriacea' (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 22 2006.
• Red List Standards & Petitions Subcommittee, 1996. 'Dermochelys coriacea' (On-line), IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed February 22, 2006.