Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

What They Look Like
The leatherback differs from other turtles in that its shell has a rubbery, leather-like consistency compared to the hard, skeleton-like shells of other turtles. They are shaped like a barrel, lacking a sharp angle between the top shell and the underbelly. The males are distinguished by a long thick tail that extends well beyond the shell.

Where to See Them
Leatherbacks nest on tropical beaches, but they are found in the cold waters of the higher latitudes in both hemispheres.

What They Eat
Leatherbacks eat lots of jellyfish, salps (zooplankton), and other gelatinous organisms. These culinary preferences pose a serious threat because the turtles mistake plastic bags and debris for food.

How They Nest
There is no accurate prediction for the age at which leatherbacks reach sexual maturity. Females nest five-seven times a year, laying around 100 eggs per nest. Nesting turtles along the Pacific coast of Mexico have been in rapid decline. Between 1986 and 1987 an estimated 4,796 nests were laid at Mexiquillo, Mexico, and by 1990-1991 the number had dropped to 1,200. Only 70 nests were laid in the same area two years later.

Status and Threats
In 1982, scientists estimated that there were 115,000 adult female leatherbacks worldwide. More recent estimates have placed the number between 20,000 and 30,000. The Pacific leatherback is in such severe decline that scientists think they will become extinct in the Pacific Ocean within the next 30 years. Incidental catch in fishing gear, harvest of their eggs, and ingestion of plastics have all contributed to the listing of the leatherbacks as endangered.