Leatherback
The largest of the sea turtles. During their long migrations, leatherbacks regularly dive to depths greater than 1,000 m in search of gelatinous zooplankton to eat. The leatherback is rapidly declining in many areas of the world.
Scientific name : Dermochelys coriacea
Status : Vulnerable(VU)
Distribution :
* Circumglobal,
* Present in all world’s oceans except Arctic and Antarctic
* Nesting areas in tropics
* Non-nesting range extends to sub-polar regions
Size :
ADULTS
Length 140-160 cm
Mass 300-1000 kg
HATCHLING
Length approximately 50 mm
Mass 40-50 gr
Diet :For all life stages; jellyfish, tunicates, and other soft-bodied animals.
Reproduction :
* Reproduce every 2-5 years
* Lay 4-7 clutches of eggs per season
* Lay 50-90 eggs per clutch
* Billiard ball size eggs weigh roughly 80 grams
* Incubation period is approximately 60-65 days long
Facts :
* Leatherbacks rely on a unique suite of adaptations including large body size, changes in activity and metabolic rate, peripheral insulation (i.e. fat), and adjustments in blood flow to maintain stable core body temperatures in varying water temperatures from temperate to tropical latitudes.
* The longest recorded leatherback migration was 13,000 miles – one way!