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Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback sea turtles are world’s largest living turtles and are the only extant species in the genus Dermochelys and family Dermochelyidae. The carapace of the species lacks bony shell and instead is covered by oily flesh and skin which differentiates it from other modern turtles. The shell looks leathery and hence its name.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Testudines
Suborder	Cryptodira
Family	Dermochelyidae
Genus	Dermochelys
Scientific Name	Dermochelys coriacea

Other Names	Lute Turtle, Leathery Turtle
Size	1.83–2.2 m
Weight	250 – 700 kg
Color	Dark gray or black carapace with pale or white spots; whitish to black plastron
Distribution	Alaska, Norway, Cape Agulhas in Africa, southernmost regions of New Zealand, all tropical and subtropical oceans, Arctic Circle
Habitat	Open ocean
Diet	Mainly jellyfish, also feed on tunicates and cephalopods
Hibernation Fact	Undergoes hibernation
Predators	Adults fall prey to sharks, killer whales whereas the eggs and young ones are eaten by fishes, dogs, seabirds, raccoons, ghost crabs, monitor lizards, coats, coyotes, genets, mongooses
Breeding Season	April – November
Mode of Reproduction	Oviparous (egg laying)
Clutch Size	65-115 eggs
Incubation Period	Around 60 days
Reproductive Age	6 to 10 years of age
Average Lifespan	Around 45 years
IUCN Conservation Status	Vulnerable