Leatherback sea turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

The leatherback sea turtle is the largest living turtle and the only sea turtle without a hard shell. Its flexible, ridged skin-covered carapace supports long migrations through open ocean.

Not a fish · an aquatic neighbor

Water

Saltwater

Open ocean, continental shelves, jellyfish-rich waters, and tropical nesting beaches.

Temperature

Range not established

A dependable species-specific wild temperature range was not established from the reviewed sources.

Size

Adults about 1.5–1.8 m (5–6 ft) long and 340–454 kg (750–1,000 lb)

A large adult can weigh about as much as a small car.

Lifespan

Estimated at 50 years or more

Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.

01 · Signature adaptation

What does it do?

It makes some of the longest migrations of any sea turtle between nesting and feeding areas. It can dive to about 1,200 m (4,000 ft) and remain submerged for up to 85 minutes.

Its superpowerA flexible shell, thick body insulation, and powerful flippers let it forage in cold deep water.

02 · Home coordinates

Where does it live?

Worldwide tropical, subtropical, and temperate oceans.

Regions: Atlantic Ocean · Pacific Ocean · Indian Ocean · tropical nesting coasts

03 · The menu

What does it eat?

It uses backward-pointing throat papillae to retain soft gelatinous prey.

Specialized carnivore: jellyfish, salps, other gelatinous animals.

04 · Remember this

Two wow facts

Deepest turtle diver

It can dive to approximately 4,000 feet, deeper than any other sea turtle.

Sources [1]

Jellyfish specialist

Its diet is dominated by jellyfish and other gelatinous animals.

Sources [1] [2]