Bottom half of shell and hind flippers out of the water.
--found at the Chattanooga aquarium
--largest turtle in the world & one of the largest reptiles
--only sea turtle that doesn't have a hard, bony shell
--can way up to 2,000 pounds for adults
--mainly black shell with pinkish -white coloring on their belly
--eat soft-bodied animals (jellyfish & salps)
Leatherback sea turtle observed by professional marine naturalist Isadore (Izzy) Szczepaniak to Leatherback Watch Program manager Dr. Chris Pincetich. Sighting was 9/8/2013 and sighting shared 9/13/2013
This leatherback was seen in Monterey Bay alongside a boat!
Two leatherbacks were seen munching on brown sea nettle jellyfish less than half a mile from each other in Monterey Bay!
Two leatherbacks were seen less than half a mile away from each other in Monterey Bay!
Our friend saw this leatherback in Monterey Bay over the Fourth of July weekend!
This leatherback was seen munching on brown nettle in Monterey Bay off of Moss Landing! Thanks Eric Mailander for the photo!
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), sometimes called the lute turtle, is the largest of all living turtles (as well as the largest extant sea turtle) and is the fourth largest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell. Instead, its carapace is covered by skin and oily flesh. Dermochelys coriacea is...