Leatherbacks

SEA TURTLE SPECIES – Leatherbacks, Dermochelys coriacea

TURTELY COOL LEATHERBACK FACTS

The leatherback sea turtle is the largest species of sea turtle still inhabiting our waters and is one of the largest reptiles around today. Leatherbacks range anywhere from 4-8 feet in length. However, the largest leatherback turtle ever recorded was almost 10 feet from tip to tail and weighed 2,019 pounds!

Of the three species that commonly nest in Broward County, leatherbacks are by far the rarest, making up only about 1% of total nesting in Broward County, equating to about 20-60 nests within a season in most cases.

Nesting female leatherbacks are the first species of sea turtle to visit our beaches each year, with their nesting usually beginning in March and ending around mid-June.

Unlike the rest of the sea turtles, which have hard shells, leatherback’s have a unique shell composed of a layer of thick cartilage, creating a tough rubbery skin
This skin provides insulation and flexibility on cold, deep dives (up to 4,000 feet), allowing them to travel through sub-arctic waters
Widest geographic distribution of all sea turtle species
Love to snack on gelatinous things such as jellyfish, tunicates, and pyrosomes

Leatherbacks are listed as Vulnerable on a global scale. However, several of their subpopulations around the world are listed as endangered to critically endangered. Our leatherbacks here in Broward County are a part of the Northwest Atlantic subpopulation, which is listed as endangered. This means that they face a high risk of extinction in the immediate future.