Leatherback Turtles

The largest of all living reptiles, the leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea, is an annual visitor and rare nester on the southeastern coast of United States. April and early May seem to be the period of the leatherback migration into Georgia waters. This concentration of turtles coincides with the occurrence of vast numbers of the cannonball jellyfish. The diet of these huge turtles is made up almost entirely of jellyfish.

Unlike other species of sea turtle, the leatherback does not have scales. Instead, it is covered with a firm, rubbery skin with seven longitudinal ridges or keels.

Interestingly, the body temperature of this reptile is warmer than its surroundings. This makes the leatherback the only known "warm blooded" reptile.

The largest leatherback ever measured washed ashore dead in 1988 on a beach in Wales. This male specimen was measured by scientists at 2019 pounds.

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Materials published by the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary written by John A. Crawford were used to create this page about leatherback turtles.