Fauna
Reptile

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Also known as Lute Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth

Leatherback sea turtles navigate thousands of miles across open ocean basins, relying on specialized countercurrent heat exchangers and a thick layer of fat to forage in subpolar waters colder than any other reptile can tolerate. Backward-pointing esophageal spines line their throats, trapping slick gelatinous jellyfish while allowing seawater to drain out before swallowing. Females return every few years to sandy tropical beaches where they lay clutches under cover of darkness, leaving distinct tractor-like track patterns across the dunes.

PelagicMarineReptile
Leatherback Sea Turtle reference1 / 7
(c) Pam Kleinsasser, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pam Kleinsasser · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyJellyfish, Pyrosomes, Salps
Predators
  • Orcas
  • Great White Sharks
  • Tiger Sharks
ThreatsFisheries bycatch, plastic debris ingestion, egg poaching, coastal development
HabitatsOpen ocean, pelagic zones, tropical nesting beaches
Life span45–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyDermochelyidae
  2. GenusDermochelys
  3. SpeciesDermochelys coriacea
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by its teardrop-shaped body covered in dark flexible skin with seven prominent longitudinal ridges.
Support conservation
Maintain a respectful distance on land and in water, turn off artificial lights at night on nesting beaches, and never handle wild hatchlings.
Responsible observation
  • Give Nesting Females Space: Stay at least 30 meters away from nesting turtles on beaches to avoid causing them to abort egg-laying.
  • Use Red Light Only: Darken white flashlights and phone screens on nesting beaches, as artificial light disorients emerging hatchlings.
  • Report Entanglements: Contact local marine mammal and sea turtle rescue networks immediately if you spot a turtle caught in fishing gear.
Related species
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