3. Habitat
Most pelagic of
the sea turtles
Females prefer
beaches close to
deep water and
rough seas
4. Niche
Favorite food: Jellies
Has a delicate jaw, must consume soft-bodied animals
Nocturnal nester
5. Interesting Facts
Largest of all sea turtles, can grow up to
7 feet long and weigh more than 2,000
pounds
Most sea turtles have hard, bony
shells—its shell is rubbery and
somewhat flexible
Can dive to depths of 4,200 feet—
deeper than any other sea turtle
Females often return to the same place
they were born to nest their own
offspring
Mouth and throat have backward
pointing spines that help retain prey
7. Effects of Humans
Many leatherbacks meet an early end due to human
activity
Only about 1/1000 leatherback hatchlings survive to
adulthood
Many become victims of fishing nets/lines or are
struck by boats
Some ingest plastic debris, mistaking it for jellies, their
favorite food
8. Endangered
Critically Endangered: facing an extremely high risk of
extinction in the wild in the immediate future
Atlantic leatherback numbers appear stable or
increasing, but Pacific rates are falling due to egg
harvest, fishery bycatch, or coastal development
9. Work Cited
"Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys
Coriacea)." Leatherback Sea Turtle Fact Sheet. North
Florida Ecological Services Office, Feb. 2012. Web. 13
Mar. 2013.
"Scientific Classification of Sea Turtles." Sea Turtle
Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
"Leatherback Sea Turtles, Dermochelys coriacea ~
MarineBio.org." MarineBio Conservation Society, 14
Jan. 2013. Web. Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
"Leatherback Sea Turtle." National Geographic. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
