Species · GBIF taxon 9789983
Leatherback
Dermochelys coriaceaAlso known as Lute Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth
Leatherback sea turtles are the undisputed giants of the turtle world, easily recognized by their dark, ridged, leathery carapaces instead of hard bony shells. These ancient mariners travel thousands of miles across open oceans, diving deeper than any other reptile to hunt soft-bodied prey in the cold depths. During the nesting season, females emerge from the surf under the cover of darkness to deposit their eggs in deep sand nests on tropical beaches.
MarineGiantMigratory
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Lion's mane jellyfish
- Salps
- Siphonophores
Predators
- Tiger sharks
- Killer whales
- Feral dogs
ThreatsMarine plastic pollution, fisheries bycatch, egg poaching, and coastal development
HabitatsPelagic oceans, open seas, and tropical nesting beaches
Life span45 to 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyDermochelyidae
- SpeciesDermochelys coriacea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Observe nesting females from a respectful distance to avoid disrupting their nesting process.
- What to notice
- Look for a massive, dark turtle with seven distinct longitudinal ridges along its leathery back.
- Support conservation
- Never touch nesting females or hatchlings, and turn off all artificial lights near nesting beaches.
Responsible observation
- Keep your distance: Maintain at least 30 feet from nesting females on beaches.
- Avoid white lights: Use red-filtered flashlights at night to prevent disorienting nesting mothers and hatchlings.
- Minimize beach obstacles: Clear away beach chairs and fill in sandcastles to ensure hatchlings reach the sea.
Co-occurring Species (c) Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble · cc-by
Co-occurring Species "Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)" by brian.gratwicke is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Co-occurring Species "Hawksbill Turtle" by Tchami is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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