Leatherback Turtle (D. coriacea)

Home	Site Map	Search
	MARINE TURTLE SPECIALIST GROUP
Species	Regions	Red List	Publications	Education
Community Participation	Genetics	Member's Services	Pending	Pending

D. coriacea

What's NEW

Back to Species Information

Cheloniidae

C. caretta

C. mydas

E. imbricata

L. kempii

L. olivacea

N. depressus

Dermochelyidae

D. coriacea

Leatherback

The sole member of the family Dermochelyidae, the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is found in all the world's oceans, from sub-arctic to tropical. Although this turtle covers a wide range, it is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and has seen substantial reductions in population size in recent years.

The leatherback is the largest of the world's turtles, with females reaching 500kg. D. coriacea is covered with scaleless, leathery skin that makes up its single-piece shell, and for which it received its name. The leatherback is also known as tortue luth (French) and tortuga laúd (Spanish). (from Pritchard and Mortimer)

Detailed taxonomic information can be found in the MTSG's publication, Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles.

Pictures of the leatherback can be found at SEATURTLE.ORG

About the MTSG	Mission	MTSG Directory	About Marine Turtles	Links	Web Submission Guidelines
For any suggestions or comments on how to improve or correct errors, please contact mtsg.co-chairs@conservation.org

MARINE TURTLE SPECIALIST GROUP