Leatherback Sea Turtle Facts

Leatherback Sea Turtle Facts at a Glance

Leatherbacks are the world's largest turtles and the only sea turtles without a hard, scaly shell. Their flexible ridged carapace and long flippers support migrations across entire ocean basins.

It belongs to the family Dermochelyidae in the order Testudines. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; source links below support further reading.

Leatherback Sea Turtle Habitat

Leatherback Sea Turtles live in Marine and Coastal habitats across Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Their range depends on places that provide suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young.

What Do Leatherback Sea Turtles Eat?

Leatherback Sea Turtles are carnivore animals. Their diet includes Jellyfish, salps, and other soft-bodied ocean animals, and the food available in their habitat shapes how they find, hunt, or forage for meals.

Leatherback Sea Turtle Lifespan, Size, and Weight

A leatherback sea turtle typically lives for Estimated 45–50 years or more. Adults measure about 152–183 cm and weigh around 340–454 kg; these ranges can vary with sex, age, habitat, and access to food.

Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Status

Leatherback Sea Turtle is listed here as Vulnerable. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.