Dermochelys coriacea

Conservation status

International: ‘Endangered’ [World Conservation Union]

Description

Adults: Carapace black with light spots, soft leathery skin with five ridges running its length; pale pink spots on top of the head; very pointed posterior; carapace ~ 1.6 m

Hatchlings: Black with white markings on carapace ridges and plastron

Largest species of sea turtle.

Distribution and habitat

Leatherback Turtles are oceanic and are found in all the oceans of the world. They feed mainly in temperate areas and breed mainly in tropical areas.

Diet

Leatherbacks are carnivorous and feed mainly in the open ocean on jellyfish and salps.

Breeding

Nesting season – Australia: December and January. Hatchlings emerge February and March.

Years between breeding 2 -4 years

Average clutch size ~90 eggs

Average hatching success Low.

Native predators on hatchlings Crabs.

Breeding areas - Australia

No major nesting occurs in Australia.

Main threats

Incidental capture in fishing and shark control program gear; ingestion of synthetic material; predation of eggs and hatchlings; unsustainable indigenous hunting of adults and collecting of eggs in main nesting countries; fox and feral pig predation of hatchlings and eggs.

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