Leatherback Sea Turtle

1 Overview

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest living turtle, reaching over 2 m and 500+ kg, and the only sea turtle without a hard shell – its carapace is leathery and ridged. It is globally threatened and strictly protected.

It is included here for education: leatherbacks are pelagic ocean migrants that cannot be kept in any private or home setting, and possession is unlawful.

2 Appearance

The body is teardrop-shaped with seven longitudinal ridges on a leathery, black-to-grey carapace speckled with white. Flippers are enormous and paddle-like.

3 Care & Temperament

Not keepable in captivity outside specialised marine facilities. Threats include plastic ingestion, fisheries bycatch, and nesting-beach loss.

Conservation relies on beach protection and fisheries measures, not private ownership.

4 Habitat & Environment

Open ocean across all tropical and temperate seas, migrating vast distances between feeding and nesting areas.

5 Diet & Feeding

Specialised on soft-bodied prey, especially jellyfish, which it locates by sight and smell across the open ocean.