Get to Know the Get to Know the Leatherback Sea Turtle Leatherback Sea Turtle

By Laura McCroryBy Laura McCrory

IntroductionIntroduction

• The Leatherback Turtle The Leatherback Turtle is a reptile that is listed is a reptile that is listed as an endangered as an endangered speciesspecies

• Once large in Once large in population it is now population it is now rapidly decliningrapidly declining

• Known as the largest, Known as the largest, deepest diving, most deepest diving, most migratory of all sea migratory of all sea turtlesturtles

• They can live to be on They can live to be on average 45 years oldaverage 45 years old

Physical FeaturesPhysical Features• Can grow to be up to 7ft long and can weigh Can grow to be up to 7ft long and can weigh

up to 2000lbsup to 2000lbs• Carpace (shell) is leathery not hard like Carpace (shell) is leathery not hard like

other turtlesother turtles• Long front flippers are clawless and black Long front flippers are clawless and black

with pale spottingwith pale spotting• Their body systems keep body temperature Their body systems keep body temperature

above water temperature so they can above water temperature so they can tolerate cold water like a mammaltolerate cold water like a mammal

BehaviorsBehaviors

• Leatherback Turtles can dive as deep as 4200 feet Leatherback Turtles can dive as deep as 4200 feet and stay down for up to 85 minutes and stay down for up to 85 minutes

• Mating occurs at sea and then the female nests on Mating occurs at sea and then the female nests on shoreshore

• Nesting occurs from about March to July Nesting occurs from about March to July • Females dig a hole in the sand and deposit up to 80 Females dig a hole in the sand and deposit up to 80

eggseggs• The hole is covered to camouflage it from predatorsThe hole is covered to camouflage it from predators• The female returns to sea and when eggs hatch the The female returns to sea and when eggs hatch the

babies will find their way to seababies will find their way to sea

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2guUpDYRug&feature=relatedv=E2guUpDYRug&feature=related

HabitatHabitat

• Leatherbacks can be found in the tropic and Leatherbacks can be found in the tropic and temperate waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and temperate waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.

• Adults have been known to travel North to Adults have been known to travel North to Canada and Norway or as far South as New Canada and Norway or as far South as New Zealand and South AmericaZealand and South America

• They prefer open water and coastal habitatsThey prefer open water and coastal habitats• Females require sandy beaches with vegetation Females require sandy beaches with vegetation

and sloped so the crawl to dry sand is not farand sloped so the crawl to dry sand is not far• Beaches are preferred to be close to deep water Beaches are preferred to be close to deep water

and rough seasand rough seas

Map of preferred habitat areas

DietDiet• Leatherbacks forage Leatherbacks forage

through coastal and through coastal and open ocean waters open ocean waters searching for food and searching for food and taking it to large taking it to large depths.depths.

• Jellyfish is main diet.Jellyfish is main diet.

• Occasionally they feed Occasionally they feed on sea urchins, squid, on sea urchins, squid, crustaceans, blue-crustaceans, blue-green algae, and green algae, and floating seaweed.floating seaweed.

Factors Contributing to Factors Contributing to StatusStatus • Eggs are often taken by humans from Eggs are often taken by humans from

nests to be consumed nests to be consumed • Many leatherbacks fall victim to fishing Many leatherbacks fall victim to fishing

lines and nets becoming part of fishery lines and nets becoming part of fishery bycatch, or are struck by boatsbycatch, or are struck by boats

• Leatherbacks also can die if they ingest Leatherbacks also can die if they ingest floating plastic debris mistaken for their floating plastic debris mistaken for their favorite food: jellyfish. Some turtles favorite food: jellyfish. Some turtles have been found to have almost 11 have been found to have almost 11 pounds of plastic in their stomachs. pounds of plastic in their stomachs.

• Coastal development changes include Coastal development changes include beachfront lighting that may cause beachfront lighting that may cause disorientation for hatchlingsdisorientation for hatchlings

• Nesting habitats have been destroyed Nesting habitats have been destroyed or altered from coastal development as or altered from coastal development as well. well.

• Degradation of foraging habitat Degradation of foraging habitat • A new threat is the current oil leak crisis A new threat is the current oil leak crisis

in the Gulf of Mexicoin the Gulf of Mexico

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSZRhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSZRN3tSk5k&feature=channelN3tSk5k&feature=channel dying turtles in gulf of Mexico dying turtles in gulf of Mexico

Efforts Made by BiologistsEfforts Made by Biologists

• Simple and inexpensive changes in fishing hook technology can Simple and inexpensive changes in fishing hook technology can reduce turtle mortality by as much as 90 percent, while not reduce turtle mortality by as much as 90 percent, while not adversely affecting fishery catches.adversely affecting fishery catches.

• International cooperation is needed to recover and stabilize International cooperation is needed to recover and stabilize nesting populations. The Fish and Wildlife Service has provided nesting populations. The Fish and Wildlife Service has provided funding annually to assist recovery efforts by supporting for funding annually to assist recovery efforts by supporting for nesting surveys and nest protection. nesting surveys and nest protection.

• Southeast United States and U.S. Caribbean have undergone Southeast United States and U.S. Caribbean have undergone major nest protection efforts and beach habitat protection major nest protection efforts and beach habitat protection

• Coastal counties and communities have developed lighting Coastal counties and communities have developed lighting ordinances to reduce hatchling disorientations. ordinances to reduce hatchling disorientations.

• A complete recovery plan was developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/recovery/turtle_leatherback_pattp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/recovery/turtle_leatherback_pacific.pdfcific.pdf

ReferencesReferences

• http://search.worldwildlife.org/2query.htmlhttp://search.worldwildlife.org/2query.html?qt=leatherback+sea+turtle?qt=leatherback+sea+turtle

• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/anihttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/leatherback-sea-turtle.htmlmals/reptiles/leatherback-sea-turtle.html

• http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/leatherback-sea-turtleturtle%20factsheets/leatherback-sea-turtle.htm.htm

• http://www.marineparks.wa.gov.au/fun-http://www.marineparks.wa.gov.au/fun-facts/leatherback-turtle.htmlfacts/leatherback-turtle.html

• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/recovery/recovery/turtle_leatherback_pacific.pdfturtle_leatherback_pacific.pdf