Reptile Questions

Why is the leatherback sea turtle important to Mexican culture?

The Seri people, from the Mexican state of Sonora, find the leatherback sea turtle culturally significant because it is one of their five main creators. The Seri people devote ceremonies and fiestas to the turtle when one is caught and then released back into the environment.

Where Did The Leatherback Sea Turtle Come From? The leatherback sea turtle is the only extant member of the family Dermochelyidae . The origin of sea turtles goes back to the Late Jurassic (150 million years ago) with genera such as Plesiochelys, from Europe. In Africa, the first sea turtle is Angolachelys, from the Turonian of Angola.

What Is A Leatherback Sea Turtle? The leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and is the fourth-heaviest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys and family Dermochelyidae.

What Is An Leatherback Sea Turtle?

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest living turtle on earth and are the fourth largest reptile, behind only three crocodile species.

How Many Ridges Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Have? The shell has seven ridges running from front to back. Leatherbacks are the largest of the seven living sea turtle species, growing to more than 6.5 feet (two meters) in length and weighing up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms).

How Did The Coast Guard Rescue The Leatherback Sea Turtle? A 900-pound leatherback sea turtle that was severely entangled in lines anchored by cinderblocks was freed by the Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon, officials said. © US Coast Guard The Coast Guard came to the rescue of this leatherback sea turtle that was entangled in Nantucket Harbor on Saturday.

How Did The Leatherback Sea Turtle Survive? They have survived the time of the dinosaurs and are only now facing extirpation from different ocean basins due to extreme and long-term pressures caused by the human race. The leatherback sea turtle is the only sea turtle species that does not have a hard, bony carapace made of keratin.

What Are The Enemies Of The Leatherback Sea Turtle? Threats & PredatorsHuman Threats. Although humans rarely intentionally hunt leatherback turtles, they often end up as the unfortunate recipient of harm from people.Climate Change & Global Warming. ...Predators. ...Other Threats. ...

Where Does The Leatherback Sea Turtle Get Its Food From?

The primary producer in the food chain of the Leatherback is seaweed. Then comes the primary consumers (mainly jellyfish) which eat the seaweed. Then there is the secondary consumer which in this case is the Leatherback Sea Turtle.

What Are The Characteristics Of Leatherback Sea Turtle? The leatherback has several characteristics that distinguish it from other sea turtles. Its most notable feature is the lack of a bony carapace. Instead of scutes, it has thick, leathery skin with embedded minuscule osteoderms.

What Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservationist Do? Conducting and supporting education and outreach efforts to the general public by raising awareness on threats to sea turtles, highlighting the importance of sea turtle conservation, and sharing ways people can help sea turtles We conduct various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of leatherback sea turtles.

How Deep Can A Leatherback Sea Turtle Dive? Leatherbacks can dive to a depth of more than 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) in search of their prey, jellyfish. The hard-shelled species dive at shallower depths. The leatherback is adapted to deep dives because of its unique morphology. Unlike other sea turtles, the leatherback lacks a rigid breastbone that allows it to collapse during deep dives.

What Is The Current Critical Habitat Designation For The Leatherback Sea Turtle? We, the NOAA Fisheries, issue a final rule to revise the current critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) by designating additional areas within the Pacific Ocean. This designation includes approximately 16,910 square miles ... Economic Impacts Associated with the U.S. West Coast Critical Habitat Designati ...

How Big Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Grow?

The carapace, or upper shell, can grow to more than 2 m in length, and the turtle can weigh more than 900 kg. Like all sea turtles, the leatherback has both front and rear flippers, but it is the only sea turtle whose flippers have no claws. Its large front flippers are usually at least half as long as its carapace.

Is Leatherback Sea Turtle Endangered? The leatherback sea turtle is subject to different conservation laws in various countries. The United States listed it as an endangered species on 2 June 1970. The passing of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ratified its status.

Can You Have A Leatherback Sea Turtle As A Pet? Leatherback sea turtles have not been domesticated in any way. As a protected species, it is highly illegal to have a leatherback sea turtle, or any sea turtle, as a pet. Keeping leatherback sea turtles would be highly difficult, because they feed almost exclusively on jellyfish.

How Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Protect Itself? Leatherback sea turtles' thick skin acts like a natural armor and is a valuable defense mechanism. However, the turtles' large size is also a deterrent for many predators, as is their ability to quickly swim away from danger.

What Is The Behavior Of A Leatherback Sea Turtle? Leatherback Sea Turtle Behavior This species of sea turtle is a great diver and they tend to spend much of their time in the deeper waters. It is believed that their metabolic rate is able to be slowed about three times more than the average reptile.

What Is The Irish Sea Leatherback Turtle Project?

^ "Irish Sea Leatherback Turtle Project - aiming to understand the populations, origins and behaviour of leatherback turtles in the Irish Sea". Archived from the original on 28 November 2008. ^ "Irish Sea Leatherback Turtle".

How Many Leatherback Sea Turtle Left In The World Wild? There is no exact count of how many western Pacific leatherback turtles are left. An analysis in 2013 by the IUCN estimated around 1,400 adult turtles survived in the subpopulation. The IUCN also forecasts the population will dip below 1,000 individuals by 2030.

What Is Unique About The Leatherback Sea Turtle? The leatherback sea turtle is the most unique of all sea turtle species. As the only living member of the family Dermochelyidea, they are the largest living turtle species and have the greatest migratory distribution of any reptile on the planet.

What Is The Diet Of The Leatherback Sea Turtle? Leatherback turtles are omnivorous and can eat sea plants and grasses. Their ridges look like the edge of a saw. It uses these to easily tear off tough plants. A leatherback sea turtle diet may also include small fish and jellyfish. They have ridges that are as sharp as knives. Their jaws are also very strong.

Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Live Alone? Do sea turtles live alone or in groups? Sea turtles are generally solitary creatures that remain submerged for much of the time they are at sea, which makes them extremely difficult to study. They rarely interact with one another outside of courtship and mating. How many leatherback sea turtles are left in the world? In 1980 there were over ...

How Much Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Eat?

The videos reveal that leatherbacks consume up to 16,000 calories in jellyfish! That is equivalent to 664 lion's mane (Cyanea capillata) and moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) or around 73% of their body weight. How does a leatherback turtle eat?

How Long Has The Leatherback Sea Turtle Been Endangered? The leatherback sea turtle was put in the federal list of endangered species on July 02, 1970. Even though it has been forty five years since, the state of California doesn't have it in its list of endangered species.

What Is The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle? Watch this video to see how NOAA scientists are studying the Pacific leatherback sea turtle, a NOAA Fisheries Species in the Spotlight. Leatherbacks have some of the longest migrations of any animal on Earth.

Is A Leatherback Sea Turtle A Primary Consumer? The primary producer in the food chain of the Leatherback is seaweed. Then comes the primary consumers (mainly jellyfish) which eat the seaweed. Then there is the secondary consumer which in this case is the Leatherback Sea Turtle. It eats the jellyfish. Finally there are the detrivors (mostly crabs) which eat the dead bodies of the turtle.

How Can We Help Save The Leatherback Sea Turtle? We engage our partners as we develop regulations and recovery plans that foster the conservation and recovery of leatherbacks and their habitats, and we fund research, monitoring, and conservation projects to implement priorities outlined in recovery plans. The leatherback sea turtle is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

What Kind Of Flippers Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Have?

A large pair of front flippers powers the turtles through the water. Like other sea turtles, the leatherback has flattened fore limbs adapted for swimming in the open ocean. Claws are absent from both pairs of flippers. The leatherback's flippers are the largest in proportion to its body among extant sea turtles.

What Is The Diet Of A Leatherback Sea Turtle? Leatherback turtles are omnivorous and can eat sea plants and grasses. Their ridges look like the edge of a saw. It uses these to easily tear off tough plants. A leatherback sea turtle diet may also include small fish and jellyfish. They have ridges that are as sharp as knives. Their jaws are also very strong.

How Do The Octonauts Save The Leatherback Sea Turtle? The captain gets creative when a snot sea cucumber invades the Octopod; the Octonauts race to save a leatherback sea turtle from a giant whirlpool. Slime eels stand between Kwazii and pirate treasure; orcas come to the rescue when Captain Barnacles and Peso are lost in the Arctic Sea.

Where Are Leatherback Sea Turtle Found? Leatherback Sea Turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) It is also found in small numbers as far north as British Columbia, Newfoundland, and the British Isles, and as far south as Australia, Cape of Good Hope, and Argentina. An estimated 34,500 females nested annually worldwide in 1995, a dramatic decline from the 115,000 estimated in 1980.

What Does A Leatherback Sea Turtle Look Like? Leatherback sea urtles are typically dark grey or black in color with small white spots. The most unique and noteworthy physical characteristic of the leatherback turtle is its shell.