Leatherback Sea Turtles. Read on to find out what these just how big these enormous amphibians grow, what they eat, where they live, and what sets them apart from other sea turtles. You can set your browser not to accept cookies and the above websites tell you how to remove cookies from your browser. Marine debris also poses a significant threat to these turtles, as they may ingest balloons, plastic bags and other plastic debris which they can mistake for their preferred food. These species are recognized as the largest among the sea turtles. They will dig a hole in the sand and lay approximately 80 eggs. Their carapace ha… They can grow to over six feet in length and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Where I Like to Hang Out I love the open ocean, but you can also find me in coastal waters. The eggs are then buried and the sand disturbed so it becomes difficult to find the eggs. Be sure to cut up plastic six-pack can/bottle holders into small pieces before disposing of them, and try to shop for products that use photodegradable or biodegradable alternatives. Here are five interesting facts about them: These massive turtles are the largest of all turtles, growing well over 2 metres long and weighing over 700 kg. Adult leatherbacks might be 8 feet (2.4 meters) long, 12 feet (3.6 meters) wide from front flipper tip to front flipper tip, and weigh about 1,600 pounds (725 kg). Unique amongst other turtles, these species have leather type back. These extreme dives benefit the turtles in their search for prey and also help them avoid predators and escape excessive heat when swimming in warmer waters. The reason leatherbacks have such a broad range and can be found in so many different environments has to do with an internal counter-current heat exchange system along with large quantities of oil in their bodies that allow them to keep their core temperature higher than that of the surrounding water. Leatherback Sea Turtles embark on the longest known migration of any other sea turtle in the world. Reader Favorites From All Turtles! Leatherbacks follow their jellyfish p… The longest leatherback ever found was estimated to be 12 feet long and weigh 2,000 lbs. Length: 1.8 – … The largest of all 7 species of sea turtles is the Leatherback Sea Turtle. Gender facts of Sea Turtle – The gender of the Sea turtle is determined by the Sand temperature. Leatherback sea turtles are the fastest sea turtles (and the fastest moving reptiles). The leathery turtle are the only surviving member in the family of Dermcelyidae and also among the genuses. Sea turtles normally possess chewing plates that allow them to chew solid prey item. Turtle Island Restoration Network November 24, 2020 Protect Nesting Beaches Save the Leatherback Sea Turtles Videos WATCH: Camera Captures Jaguar Eating Sea Turtle Carcass in Costa Rica Moreover, the throat of leatherbacks contains backward-pointing spines. For a mixture of male and female, the nest temperature must be approximately 29.5 degrees C (85.1 degrees Fahrenheit). They can grow to over six feet in length and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. A higher temperature will result in more females, and a lower temperature means more males. They are mainly pelagic (open ocean) wanderers but migrate to tropical and subtropical coastal regions to mate and nest. A 2010 study found that leatherbacks likely regulate their rate of buoyancy during deep dives by varying the amount of air they inhale while at the surface. Ditch commemorative balloons and find alternative ways to celebrate that don't harm the environment. Scientific name: Dermochelys coriacea Family name: Chelonioidea Classification: Reptile IUCN status: Vulnerable Lifespan (in wild): Up to 50 years Weight: Up to 900kg Body length: Up to 2m Diet: Carnivore Habitat: Ocean Range: The world’s largest turtles, leatherbacks can grow to to around 2m long and weigh up to a massive 900kg – that’s heavier than 11 men! Scientists tracked a leatherback turtle that swam from Jen Womom beach of Tambrauw regency in West Papua province of Indonesia to the U.S. in a 20,000 km (12,000 mi) foraging journey over a period of 647 days. The Leatherback Sea Turtle, also known as the lute turtle or the leathery turtle, is the largest sea turtle and the most migratory. You can find me worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans. As adults, these impressive animals can reach up to 8 feet long and grow to weigh up to 2,000 lbs. In the Atlantic, they can be found as far north as Norway and the Arctic Circle and south to the tip of Africa. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. It has bones rather than just a protective covering. The average is 4 – 8 feet long, and 500 – 1,000 lbs. They rather have flippers. The leatherback sea turtle one of the largest living reptiles (the saltwater crocodile is generally considered the largest) and the largest species of sea turtles. Amazing Facts About the Leatherback Sea Turtle. These jaws are built to feed on soft-bodied and slippery prey, like jellyfish. The composition of the eggs is very different from what we commonly know. They have massive front flippers that can grow into an almost nine-foot wingspan. Some of our website features may not function as a result. They are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell and are named for their tough rubbery skin. It is the fourth largest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. They have seven ridges along the length of their shells, and these ridges run from the bottom of the neck all the way to the beginning of the tail. One female Leatherback Turtle has been recorded with satellite technology to have swam 12,000 miles (19,000 km) from, The Leatherback Turtle is the only turtle not to have a hard shell. Read on for interesting facts about leatherback sea turtles. Leatherback turtles are vulnerable turtle species listed in the red list of the International Union of Conservation of Nature. Dispose of litter responsibly, especially non-recyclable plastics. Adult leatherback sea turtles are also sometimes harvested as food, often caught accidentally in fishing gear, and can be involved in vessel strikes. Leatherback hatchlings break out of their egg with a special tooth. Once they get to their preferred beach, the female turtles will lay about 80 eggs to fill up a sand nest. Leatherbacks are the Largest Sea Turtle. It swims around the globe, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and travelling as far north as Alaska and Norway and as far south as the most southern point of New Zealand, South America and South Africa. The largest of all sea turtles and the fourth heaviest reptilian species in the world, the leatherback sea turtle can weigh up to … It is unknown how long a leatherback can live for, but estimates suggest between 40-45 years. Leatherback Sea Turtle Quick Fact Sheet Common Name: Leatherback - named for its unique shell which is composed of a layer of thin, tough, rubbery skin, strengthened by thousands of tiny bone plates that makes it look “leathery.” Scientifi c Name: Dermochelys coriacea Description: Head has a deeply notched upper jaw with 2 cusps. They can stay under the water for up to 85 minutes. 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