Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles in the world.
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Leatherback Habitat
Leatherback sea turtles live in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, occupying the open ocean, coral reefs, and shallow coasts. They are expert divers, reaching depths of over 4,000 feet! Unlike other sea turtles, they are able to produce their own body heat, allowing them to swim as far north as Canada. They have the longest migration routes of any sea turtle. They may travel over 3,500 miles each way to get to and from nesting sites and feeding grounds.
Leatherbacks have the longest migration routes of any sea turtle.
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Leatherback Diet
Leatherback sea turtles have unique taste in food; they love jellies! Other sea turtles eat jellies, but they are the main diet of leatherbacks.
Leatherback Life Cycle
Nobody knows exactly how long leatherback sea turtles live, but it is thought that they can live upwards of 50 years. Leatherback sea turtles hatch from eggs that are buried on the beach. The temperature of the nest determines whether the babies, called hatchlings, will be male or female. Cooler nests produce more males, while warmer nests produce more females. The young hatchlings must find their way to the ocean by themselves. People sometimes volunteer to help them, especially on beaches that have been damaged by human activity. Once in the sea, leatherback sea turtles take a long time to mature. Adults mate in the ocean, and then the female crawls back on to the beach to lay her eggs.
Leatherback sea turtle hatchlings must find their own way to the ocean.
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Threats
Leatherback sea turtles are an endangered species, meaning there is a chance they could vanish. Pacific populations are especially in danger. Leatherbacks have been hit hard by beach loss, egg theft, and accidental run-ins with fishing gear. Trash in the ocean is also a big threat to leatherbacks. They confuse plastic bags with jellies, and end up with plastic in their stomachs.
Lesson Summary
Leatherback sea turtles are the largest sea turtles in the world, and the only ones to have soft shells. They migrate long distances to and from feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Leatherbacks are endangered because of habitat loss, egg theft, and fishing, and they can also be harmed if they mistake plastic bags for food.
