leatherback

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest living turtle, with adults reaching up to about 1.8 meters in length and weighing around 700 kilograms. Its shell is a flexible, leathery carapace without the bony scutes seen in other turtles, and it is generally dark with pale markings.

Leatherbacks have a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring in all oceans. Adults undertake long migrations between high-latitude feeding grounds and tropical or subtropical nesting beaches. They nest on sandy shores worldwide and can travel thousands of kilometers between foraging and breeding areas.

Diet and behavior centers on feeding mainly on jellyfish and other soft-bodied prey. Their long, powerful swimming enables extensive migrations and deep dives, with dives often exceeding 1,000 meters and extended submergence times.

Reproduction and development involve seasonal nesting by females, who lay clutches typically containing about 80 to 100 eggs. A female may nest several times during a breeding season. Incubation lasts roughly two months, and incubation temperature influences the sex of hatchlings.

Conservation: The leatherback is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with some regional populations facing higher threats. Major pressures include bycatch in fishing gear, plastic pollution, nest disturbance, and climate change affecting nesting beaches and hatchling survival. Conservation measures focus on protected nesting habitats, bycatch reduction, and international cooperation to safeguard migratory routes.