Leatherback Sea Turtle Leatherback Sea Turtle

Mrs. Medford’s ClassMrs. Medford’s Class

The Leatherback Sea TurtleThe Leatherback Sea Turtle• The leatherback sea The leatherback sea

turtle is the largest of turtle is the largest of all turtles. all turtles.

• Adults can weigh Adults can weigh between 700 and between 700 and 2000 lbs. and grow to 2000 lbs. and grow to 6ft or more6ft or more

• They can not hide or They can not hide or retract their fins into retract their fins into their shells like most their shells like most turtles.turtles.

• Carapace is slightly Carapace is slightly flexible and has a flexible and has a rubbery texture. rubbery texture.

Endangerment StatusEndangerment Status

• The U.S. Federal government The U.S. Federal government has listed the leatherback as has listed the leatherback as endangered worldwide. endangered worldwide. Endangered means there are Endangered means there are not many of them left.not many of them left.

• Within the U.S., the leatherback Within the U.S., the leatherback is known to nest in is known to nest in Southeastern Florida, Culebra, Southeastern Florida, Culebra, Puerto Rico, and St. Croix. Puerto Rico, and St. Croix.

• Leatherback sea turtles are Leatherback sea turtles are among the most endangered among the most endangered animals on the planet.animals on the planet.

Causes of Causes of EndangermentEndangerment• Exploitation by humans for Exploitation by humans for

the eggs and meat the eggs and meat • Fishing lines and nets Fishing lines and nets • Illegal egg harvestingIllegal egg harvesting• Loss of nesting habitat Loss of nesting habitat • Hatchlings often die when Hatchlings often die when

beachfront lighting draws beachfront lighting draws them away from the oceanthem away from the ocean

• Pollution - Hundreds of Pollution - Hundreds of hatchlings die at sea when hatchlings die at sea when they swallow floating plastic they swallow floating plastic debris mistaken for their debris mistaken for their favorite food jellyfishfavorite food jellyfish

HabitatHabitat• Their range is the Their range is the

tropical and tropical and temperate waters of temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. and Indian oceans.

• They have been They have been sighted on the coast sighted on the coast of Florida and much of Florida and much more of the U.S. more of the U.S. coastline. coastline. http://animals.nationalgeographic.chttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/printable/leatherback-om/animals/printable/leatherback-sea-turtle.htmlsea-turtle.html

Leatherback Sea Turtle range

FoodFood

• Their favorite food: Their favorite food: jellyfishjellyfish

• They even have a They even have a special notch in special notch in their beak to help their beak to help puncture the man-puncture the man-o-war jellyfish. o-war jellyfish.

ReproductionReproduction• In the U.S., nesting In the U.S., nesting

occurs March to July. occurs March to July. Female leatherbacks Female leatherbacks nest an average of 5 to nest an average of 5 to 7 times within a nesting 7 times within a nesting seasonseason

• Incubation for the eggs Incubation for the eggs takes from 55 to 75 days takes from 55 to 75 days

• Leatherbacks are Leatherbacks are believed to reach sexual believed to reach sexual maturity in 6 to 10 years maturity in 6 to 10 years

• The mother does not The mother does not stay with youngstay with young

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts• The largest leatherback was a 5 The largest leatherback was a 5

foot and 8 inch male weighing foot and 8 inch male weighing 2,020 pounds in 1988.2,020 pounds in 1988.

• All other sea turtles have hard, All other sea turtles have hard, but the smooth, black carapace but the smooth, black carapace of the leatherback is soft,of the leatherback is soft,

• They can stay underwater for They can stay underwater for 35 minutes and dive as deep as 35 minutes and dive as deep as 4000 feet.4000 feet.

• Sea turtles are one of the Sea turtles are one of the oldest creatures on the planet.oldest creatures on the planet.

Save the Sea TurtlesSave the Sea Turtles• Fish and Wildlife Fish and Wildlife

Service provide funding Service provide funding to assist recovery to assist recovery efforts for the efforts for the leatherback in Mexico leatherback in Mexico and Costa Rica. and Costa Rica.

• In the Southeast United In the Southeast United States and U.S. States and U.S. Caribbean, major nest Caribbean, major nest protection efforts protection efforts

• Beach habitat Beach habitat protection are protection are underway for most of underway for most of the significant nesting the significant nesting areas. areas.

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

ReferencesReferences

• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/rehttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/leatherback-sea-turtle.htmlptiles/leatherback-sea-turtle.html

• http://www.leatherback.org/http://www.leatherback.org/• http://www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/personnel/mw.shtmhttp://www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/personnel/mw.shtm

ll• http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/SeaTurtles/Turtlehttp://www.fws.gov/northflorida/SeaTurtles/Turtle

%20Factsheets/leatherback-sea-turtle.htm%20Factsheets/leatherback-sea-turtle.htm• http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/

CreatureFeature/Leatherback-sea-turtleCreatureFeature/Leatherback-sea-turtle• http://www.iucnredlist.org/http://www.iucnredlist.org/• http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/st_sea_turtles.htmhttp://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/st_sea_turtles.htm• http://www.globalresponse.org/gra.php?i=2/03http://www.globalresponse.org/gra.php?i=2/03