Leatherbacks

Leatherbacks, or leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), are the largest living sea turtles. They differ from other species by having a flexible, oil-slicked carapace without hard scutes; the shell is composed of leathery tissue and bone, with seven distinct ridges running down the back. Adults can reach lengths of about 1.5 to 1.9 meters and weigh up to around 900 kilograms.

Leatherbacks have a cosmopolitan distribution, inhabiting the open ocean in all major seas except polar regions. They migrate long distances between foraging areas and tropical-to-subtropical nesting beaches. Nesting occurs on sandy shores worldwide, with large rookeries in parts of the Caribbean, West Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

Their diet is specialized for jellyfish and other soft-bodied invertebrates. They are strong divers, capable of reaching great depths in search of prey, and can perform extended dives that last for long periods. This feeding strategy allows them to exploit jellyfish blooms across broad oceanic regions.

Reproduction is characterized by infrequent nesting. Females return to beaches to lay eggs every two to four years, constructing shallow nests and depositing clutches typically numbering several dozen eggs. Incubation lasts about two months, with hatchlings emerging at night and making a perilous journey to the sea.

Conservation status is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Major threats include bycatch in longline and gillnet fisheries, egg collection, coastal development, pollution, and climate-related shifts in sand temperature that influence hatchling sex ratios. Conservation measures focus on protecting nesting beaches, reducing bycatch through gear modifications, and supporting international cooperative management and research.