Leatherback sea turtles are among the most endangered animals on the planet. These reptilian relics, part of a family of turtles that lived over 100 million years ago, are the only remaining representatives of their genus. They survived the demise of the dinosaurs and now teeter on the brink of extinction themselves.
Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth, growing up to 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) in length and exceeding 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms). They may live 45 years or more, but human threats, such as fishing lines and nets, mean most leatherbacks meet an early end.
Other threats include illegal egg harvesting and loss of nesting habitat. Hatchlings often die when beachfront lighting draws them away from the ocean, and hundreds die at sea when they swallow floating plastic debris mistaken for their favorite food: jellyfish.
In all, only about one in 1,000 leatherbacks survives to adulthood. The worldwide population is estimated at about 26,000 to 43,000 nesting females annually, but they are suffering exponential declines and are critically endangered throughout their range.
While all other sea turtles have hard, bony shells, the smooth, black carapace of the leatherback is soft, almost rubbery to the touch. They can dive 4,035 feet (1,230 meters) below the surface, deeper than any other turtle, and can stay down for up to 35 minutes.
Their enormous range comprises the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. However, unlike other reptiles, their body temperature stays well above the surrounding water, and they have been found in the icy seas as far north as British Columbia, Canada, and as far south as the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
Leatherback Sea Turtle range