Leatherback sea turtles are the largest living marine reptiles and live almost their entire lives at sea. The only times that they are on land is when the female turtles lay eggs, and when hatchlings emerge from the nest and make their way to ocean. Leatherback turtles are different from other sea turtles in that they have a soft, cartilaginous shell rather than a hard bony one. It is from the appearance of the shell that the "Leatherback" name comes. They have a more streamlined shape and larger flippers than other sea turtles, reflecting their more migratory and pelagic lifestyle.
Ten Facts about Leatherback
- Adults average 1-2 metres (3.3-6.6 ft) long and weigh 250 to 700 kilograms (550 to 1,500 lb).
- They are spreading all over the world including Atlantic ocean, Indian Ocean & pacific ocean.
- Leatherback turtles can be found primarily in the open ocean.
- Adult Leatherback subsist almost entirely on jellyfish. They also feed on other soft-bodied organisms such as tunicates and cephalopods.
- After encountering a female the male uses head movements, nuzzling, biting, or flipper movements to determine her receptiveness.
- Females mate every two to three years.
- Average clutch size is around 110 eggs.
- The eggs hatch in about sixty to seventy days
- About 50 nests a year reported in Florida, estimates of 70,000 to 115,000 breeding females worldwide.
- Individuals may spend as little as .1% of the day resting.
