Leatherback Sea Turtle - A Critically Endangered Species

Leatherback, as the name says, this turtle does not have a hard shell like the other turtles do, but instead has a thick leather-like protective covering. Hence the name leatherback turtle. Its shape is also quite different from the other turtles, like a large tear drop! 

Leatherback turtle

Source: worldwildlife.org

Another critically endangered turtle species, that is on the IUCN red list. These are the largest of all the marine turtles that can grow as huge as 7 feet long. 

Close up view of dermochelys coriacea, leatherback turtle

Source: By Rabon David, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The scientific name for the leatherback turtle is Dermochelys coriacea.

Range and Nesting location of Leatherback sea Turtle
Red dot = major nesting locations
Yellow dot=minor nesting locations

Source: By Pïnpin (own work from Inscape) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)

They are found in the warm tropical and sub-tropical oceans up to the cold Arctic circle. They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and the Pacific ocean population is close to extinction. They have a special adaptation (counter-current heat exchangers) that helps them with maintaining a body temperature that is a lot higher (almost 18 degrees Celsius higher) compared to the cold waters that they live in. Also their constant swimming generates heat due to muscle movements.

To read more about the leatherback turtles in detail, their characteristics, behaviour, food, habitat, reproduction, threats they face, conservation efforts and facts, please follow the link below.

Leatherback Sea Turtle - A Critically Endangered Species

The leatherback turtles have long flippers and seven prominent ridges on their back. They have pointed spikes in their mouth to help them to prevent their food the jellyfish (their main food) from slipping away.

Parts of a leatherback turtle

Source: sharkbay.org

Mouth of leatherback turtle

Source: nmlc.org

They mate in the ocean once every three to four years. The female comes to the nesting beaches on dark moonless nights and lays eggs in a remote area in the beach. Like most turtles, the leatherback turtle's eggs are also fed upon by predators. 

Eggs of leatherback turtle

Source: saveourleatherbacks.org

Hatchlings hatch within 60 to 70 days and they return to the sea. They have predators too, before entering the sea and in the sea. The lifespan of the leatherback turtles is estimated to be between 45 and 80 years.

Leatherback turtle hatchling

Source: ocean.si.edu

The leatherback turtles are important because they maintain the marine ecosystem by keeping the population of the jellyfish under control and are important in ecotourism

Jellyfish

Source: I, Katrina Curato [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0

These leatherback turtles are critically endangered and the threats that they face are:

• Intensive egg collection
• Killing for meat
• Fisheries bycatch
• Over-harvesting
• Oil drilling - pollutes the ocean
• Swallowing plastic bags - blocks their digestive tracts
• Erosion of nesting beaches due to rise in level of sea water
• Damage to coral reefs and grass beds

Leatherback turtle Bycatch

Source: worldwildlife.org

Turtle swallowing plastic bags

Source: kropes98.global2.vic.edu.au

WWF along with many partnership conservation organisations are working towards:

• Reducing use of turtle meat and eggs
• Reduce bycatch by helping design fishing equipment with turtle excluding devices
• Ecotourism 
• Educating fishermen with saving turtles that get caught in their nets
• Establishing marine protected areas
• Satellite devices to monitor the movements of the turtles.
• Steps taken to stop illegal trading and illegal acts

Leatherback Sea Turtle - A Critically Endangered Species

Did you know? The largest leatherback turtle was found on the West coast of Wales in 1998 and it weighed 916 kg with 2.6 m long body!!!

These beautiful leatherback turtles are nearing extinction. We need to join hands to protect them and save our environment.

Leatherback sea turtle nesting

Source: By Rabon David, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

You can help by donating to the WWF or adopting a turtle or by sending a turtle to rehab. Please do not buy any turtle products and you can hugely help by not throwing plastic waste anywhere near the oceans. Please try and pick up any plastic covers or other plastic material that you see, you will be saving a turtle or another marine species. Also, spread the word about these turtles to your friends, family, relatives and children.


I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.
Stay safe.

Peace and love...

Livingsta :-)