Of course, leatherback sea turtles typically grow larger and therefore have more developed limbs that are better equipped to handle the rigors of swimming longer distances under the water. Still, the leatherback sea turtle is much slower than most other marine species, namely bigger fish, squid or eels.
Green sea turtles are sluggish when on the move, whether by land or by sea. The consensus is that they are faster underwater than on a dry surface, since green sea turtles have the ability to glide in water and can reach bursts that can propel them to speeds as quick as 22 miles per hour. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The American Oceans Campaign is dedicated primarily to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the health and vitality of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands, and oceans.
Have a question? Contact us today. Privacy Policy. American Oceans. Common Name: Leatherback Sea Turtle. Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea. Type: Reptiles. Diet: Carnivore. Size: Up to 7 feet. Weight: Up to 2, pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Least Concern Extinct.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing. This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo. Share Tweet Email. Go Further. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth.
Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Jump to navigation. Order Testudines turtles, tortoises and terrapins , Family Dermochelyidae leatherback sea turtles. Reaching weights of up to 2, pounds 1, kilos , the leatherback turtle is the largest living turtle on the planet. Unlike all other marine turtles, the leatherback turtle does not have a hard, bony carapace shell.
Instead, as its name implies, it has a tough, rubbery shell that is composed of cartilage-like tissues. Having the widest global distribution of all turtle species, leatherbacks are found in the tropic and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans as far north as Alaska and as far south as New Zealand. Unlike many other reptile species, leatherback turtles are able to maintain warm body temperatures in cold water due to some unique adaptations that allows them to generate and retain body heat, including their large body size, a thick layer of fat and changing their swimming activity.
These turtles also have a specialized blood vessel structure — called a countercurrent exchanger — that allows them to maintain a body temperature that is higher than the surrounding water. This provides them with a major advantage in the extremely cold waters.
Leatherbacks spend almost all of their time in the ocean with females only coming to shore to lay eggs. For that reason, from the time they hatch and enter the surf, males will never be out of the water again and are therefore more difficult to study than females.
Over the years, the program has successfully aided in the rescue and release of hundreds of turtles. Back To Top. Leatherback turtle swims near the surface in waters off Kofiau—an island in Indonesia located in the Coral Triangle, an area containing the richest variety of marine species in the world. Meet the Leatherback Sea Turtle The leatherback sea turtle is the largest and fastest turtle on earth.
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