# Leatherback Sea Turtle (*Dermochelys coriacea*) The Leatherback Sea Turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world! They have a unique soft shell and love to dive deep into the ocean. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Epic - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Open oceans - **Also known as:** Leatherback Turtle, Lute Turtle ![Leatherback Sea Turtle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425966/objects/5640.jpg) ## Appearance The Leatherback Sea Turtle is the world's largest turtle, instantly recognizable by its unique leathery, ridged shell instead of a hard bony one. It has a dark, almost black body often speckled with white or pale spots. Its streamlined shape and huge front flippers are perfect for ocean travel. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Dermochelyidae - **Genus:** Dermochelys ## Interesting facts - Baby leatherbacks emerge from eggs about the size of a billiard ball! - Instead of a hard shell, they have a tough, leathery skin! - These ancient reptiles have roamed Earth for over 100 million years! - They travel thousands of miles across oceans to nest! ## Special abilities - **Internal Heater:** Leatherback Sea Turtles have a unique ability to regulate their body temperature, helping them survive in icy cold ocean waters. - **Jellyfish Magnet:** Leatherback Sea Turtles have backward-pointing spines in their throats that help them swallow slippery jellyfish without escape. - **Marathon Swimmer:** Leatherback Sea Turtles can migrate thousands of kilometers because their large, powerful flippers provide incredible swimming endurance. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 180-220 cm - **Weight:** 250-700 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 10 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 60-120 - **Incubation:** 60-70 days - **Maximum Depth:** 1200 m ## Diet & Feeding These giant turtles mainly gobble up jellyfish and other soft-bodied ocean creatures! - **Primary Foods:** Jellyfish, Salps, Tunicates, Pyrosomes - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Purple-striped Jellyfish (*Pelagia noctiluca*) — main food. - **Eaten by:** [Tiger Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-shark) (*Galeocerdo cuvier*) — preys on hatchlings. - **Eaten by:** [Atlantic Ghost Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-ghost-crab) (*Ocypode quadrata*) — eats eggs. - **Symbiotic with:** Common Remora (*Remora remora*) — gets a ride. ## Traits - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Leatherback Sea Turtle? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Leatherback Sea Turtle? 180-220 cm ### How much does Leatherback Sea Turtle weigh? 250-700 kg ### How long does Leatherback Sea Turtle live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Leatherback Sea Turtle move? 35 km/h ### What does Leatherback Sea Turtle eat? These giant turtles mainly gobble up jellyfish and other soft-bodied ocean creatures! ### How fast can Leatherback Sea Turtle swim? 10 km/h ### Where is Leatherback Sea Turtle usually found? Open oceans ## Where to spot - [American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-orchid-society-visitors-center-and-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morikami-museum-and-japanese-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Itaúnas State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/itaunas-state-park) — BR · Park [View all places to see Leatherback Sea Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/leatherback-sea-turtle) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Leatherback Sea Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leatherback-sea-turtle)