Leatherback turtle millions of Eggs

Leatherback turtle
Dermochelys coriacea

Statistics
The largest of the turtles, the leatherback may attain a total length of about 1.8m (6ft) with a weight of about 540kg (1,200lb) and a span of about 2.7m from the tip of one front flipper to the tip of the other front flipper.


Physical Description
Leatherback turtles have no obvious shell. Instead, they have bones buried in their dark brown or blackish skin. They have flexible bony plates set on ridges. There are seven longitudinal ridges on their backs and five on their undersides.
Their flexible internal shell allows them to withstand water pressure so they can dive to greater depths.



Distribution
They are found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, particularly in tropical regions.


Habitat
They inhabit warm open seas throughout the world.


Diet
They are apparently omnivorous eating grasses and small animals.


Behaviour
Leatherbacks are strong swimmers and undertake long journeys. After nesting, the females circle the site, possibly to reinforce it in their memory to aid their return. The hatchlings also do this before heading to the sea.


Reproduction
Like other turtles, leatherbacks leave the sea to dig burrows in the sand and lay eggs.


Conservation status
They are threatened because of egg loss which is due largely to humans.

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