Habitat Most pelagic ofthe sea turtles Females preferbeaches close todeep water andrough seas
Niche Favorite food: Jellies Has a delicate jaw, must consume soft-bodied animals Nocturnal nester
Interesting Facts Largest of all sea turtles, can grow up to7 feet long and weigh more than 2,000pounds Most sea turtles have hard, bonyshells—its shell is rubbery andsomewhat flexible Can dive to depths of 4,200 feet—deeper than any other sea turtle Females often return to the same placethey were born to nest their ownoffspring Mouth and throat have backwardpointing spines that help retain prey
Effects of Humans Many leatherbacks meet an early end due to humanactivity Only about 1/1000 leatherback hatchlings survive toadulthood Many become victims of fishing nets/lines or arestruck by boats Some ingest plastic debris, mistaking it for jellies, theirfavorite food
Endangered Critically Endangered: facing an extremely high risk ofextinction in the wild in the immediate future Atlantic leatherback numbers appear stable orincreasing, but Pacific rates are falling due to eggharvest, fishery bycatch, or coastal development
Work Cited "Leatherback Sea Turtle (DermochelysCoriacea)." Leatherback Sea Turtle Fact Sheet. NorthFlorida Ecological Services Office, Feb. 2012. Web. 13Mar. 2013. "Scientific Classification of Sea Turtles." Sea TurtleConservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. "Leatherback Sea Turtles, Dermochelys coriacea ~MarineBio.org." MarineBio Conservation Society, 14Jan. 2013. Web. Wednesday, March 13, 2013. "Leatherback Sea Turtle." National Geographic. N.p.,n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.