Leatherback Sea Turtle
Few reptiles are as interesting as the leatherback sea turtle. There are several distinct features of the turtle that set it apart from other turtle species and make it one of the most fascinating.
Most people think of a small, hard shelled reptile that crawls along at its own speed when they think of a turtle. The leatherback sea turtle is none of those. Certainly, once individuals learn more of this amazing reptile, it will dispel any preconceived notions of turtles they may have had.
Their name of Leatherback Sea Turtle is derived from their unique distinguishing feature of a soft shell. Composed of a thick, rubbery skin, the shell is fortified with many small bones that give the appearance of leather. This dense skin enables the sea turtle to dive to great depths in their search for food, allowing their lungs to expand and hold a greater volume of air to sustain them during the dives. This feature alone makes the Leather Sea Turtle exclusively within their genus.
Only the most fortunate of individuals have been favored with the sight of a seemingly winged wide shelled body gliding through the ocean waters with ease and grace. The leatherback sea turtle can be found just about anywhere world wide; as far north as Alaska and as far south as Africa; mostly in deeper waters of the open ocean although they have been sighted from land. Males of the species are completely water dwellers, while females emerge from the ocean simply to nest.
Its ability to swim great spans and dive great fathoms also garners the Leatherback Sea Turtle distinct honors. There is no other reptile that has these capabilities. It is also known to be the longest surviving reptile on earth; dating back in some form to approximately 110 million years; in of itself an amazing fact. Considering that dinosaurs are extinct while this reptile managed to adapt to new environments in order to survive is mind boggling.
The Leatherback Sea Turtle is the largest known reptile in the world by weight, and certainly the largest of marine turtles by far. Males have been known to reach 6 feet in length and 9 feet in width when flippers are extended, with weights topping the 2,000 pound range. Females are somewhat smaller, achieving weights around 1,000 pounds.
Mating occurs internally underwater. The female then crawls ashore where she will lay up to nine clutches of eggs by digging a hole in the soft sand and then covering the freshly laid eggs to protect them from predators. Around 100 eggs are in each clutch; the high number due to the fact that the survival rate of new hatchlings is slim. Those hatchlings that do reach the ocean waters are generally unseen until maturity.
It is important to note that the leatherback sea turtle is an endangered species. Such an interesting and fascinating creature should not be allowed to disappear, but should be treated as the marvel of nature that it truly is.