leatherback sea turtle

While little research has been done on Dermochelys populations in the Indian Ocean, nesting populations are known from Sri Lanka and the Nicobar Islands. The temperature inside the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. The last official count of nesting leatherback females in Brazil yielded only seven females. (All others have hard, bony-plated shells.) The shell lengths of few individuals exceed 1.6 metres (5 feet), although some reportedly reach 2.4 metres (8 feet). The leatherback's flippers are the largest in proportion to its body among extant sea turtles. One cause for their endangered state is plastic bags floating in the ocean. Species of marine reptile in the family Chelonidae, Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on. According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, as few as one in 10,000 sea turtle eggs reach adulthood. [43][48], Pacific leatherbacks divide into two populations. On this research project, Dr. Dennis Sammy of Nature Seekers and Dr. Scott Eckert of Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network work alongside a team of volunteers to help prevent the extinction of leatherback sea turtles.[97]. This is because they regularly cross entire oceans to both feed and nest. Once prevalent in every ocean except the Arctic and Antarctic, the leatherback population is rapidly declining in many parts of the world. coriacea. They have existed in their current form since the age of the dinosaurs. It migrates through both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, to feed on jellyfish where they're abundant. [5] Leatherbacks also feed on other soft-bodied organisms, such as tunicates and cephalopods. The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world's largest turtle; the largest recorded individual weighed a massive 916 kilograms.This turtle earned its common name because it lacks the typical bony plates on itscarapace. Dermochelys coriacea is the only species in genus Dermochelys. This polyandry does not provide the offspring with any special advantages.[70]. The Leatherback Sea Turtle, also known as the lute turtle or the leathery turtle, is the largest sea turtle and the most migratory. The typical nesting environment includes a dark forested area adjacent to the beach. [19][21] In the Caribbean, the mean size of adults was reported at 384 kg (847 lb) in weight and 1.55 m (5.1 ft) in CCL. [19][20] Instead of teeth, the leatherback turtle has points on the tomium of its upper lip, with backwards spines in its throat (esophagus) to help it swallow food and to stop its prey from escaping once caught. Likes LEAVE A COMMENT. It has been listed as an EDGE species by the Zoological Society of London.[84]. As leatherback turtles spend the vast majority of their lives in the ocean, their eyes are not well adapted to night vision on land. In the Atlantic, they can be found as far north as Norway and the Arctic Circle and south to the tip of Africa. Leatherback turtles do not evolve into any other animals, as they are one of the latest animals. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T6494A43526147.en, https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/reports/ad-hoc-species-report-input, "The Etymological Riddle of the Ridley Sea Turtle", "Dermochelyoidea - leatherback turtles and relatives", "Species Fact Sheet: Leatherback Sea Turtle", http://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/Leatherbacktutle.pdf, "Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna", 10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002[0653:neotlt]2.0.co;2, "Ontogenetic Changes in Tracheal Structure Facilitate Deep Dives and Cold Water Foraging in Adult Leatherback Sea Turtles", "Leatherback Turtles Satellite Tagged in European Waters", "Long-term monitoring of leatherback turtle diving behaviour during oceanic movements", "WWF - Leatherback turtle - Population & Distribution", "Building our Knowledge of the Leatherback Stock Structure", "Isotope Analysis Reveals Foraging Area Dichotomy for Atlantic Leatherback Turtles", "Nova Scotia Leatherback Turtle Working Group", Hope remains in conserving Malaysia’s three turtle species, "Leatherback turtle swims from Indonesia to Oregon in epic journey", "Australian endangered species: Leatherback Turtle", "WWF - Leatherback turtle - Ecology & Habitat", "DEEP: Leatherback Sea Turtle Fact Sheet", "A Leatherback turtle has been found washed up on Macs Beach, about 6km north of Ardrossan", "Arthropod succession in leatherback turtle carrion and implications for determination of the postmortem interval", "Polyandry in a marine turtle: Females make the best of a bad job", "Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)", "Taste for leatherback eggs contributes to Malaysian turtle's demise", http://www.jellyfishfacts.net/jellyfish-diet.html, http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/leatherback/, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46967807A46967809.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46967873A46967877.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T46967827A83327767.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46967848A46967852.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46967838A46967842.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46967863A46967866.en, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46967817A46967821.en, "The Top Ten Burning Issues in Global Sea Turtle Conservation", "NOAA designates additional critical habitat for leatherback sea turtles off West Coast", "Earthwatch: Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles", "History of the Sea Turtle Project in Parismina", "Experts meet to help save world's largest turtles", turtles of the world 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leatherback_sea_turtle&oldid=1006156293, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Articles with dead external links from May 2016, Articles with dead external links from January 2014, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2010, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Southeast Atlantic Ocean subpopulation: DD (Data Deficient), Southwest Atlantic Ocean subpopulation CR (Critically Endangered), Southwest Indian Ocean subpopulation CR (Critically Endangered), West Pacific Ocean subpopulation CR (Critically Endangered), This page was last edited on 11 February 2021, at 10:43. [11] The two were then united in D. coriacea, with each given subspecies status as D. c. coriacea and D. c. schlegelii. They are not only the largest of all turtles, but they are also the most migratory. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell, hence the name. The beach of Rantau Abang in Terengganu, Malaysia, once had the largest nesting population in the world, hosting 10,000 nests per year. [34] This constant swimming creates muscle-derived heat. [33], Rather than using a high resting metabolism, leatherbacks appear to take advantage of a high activity rate. [36][37] Leatherback sea turtle heading to the surf: Steve Winter. The leatherback sea turtle is the largest sea turtle, measuring 2–3 m (6–9 ft) in length, 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) in width, and weighing up to 700 kg (1500 lb). Scientists around the world are tracking and studying leatherbacks to learn more about these reptilian giants and how they can be saved. Atlantic leatherbacks nest between February and July from South Carolina in the United States to the United States Virgin Islands in the Caribbean and to Suriname and Guyana. [22], D. coriacea exhibits several anatomical characteristics believed to be associated with a life in cold waters, including an extensive covering of brown adipose tissue,[29] temperature-independent swimming muscles,[30] countercurrent heat exchangers between the large front flippers and the core body, and an extensive network of countercurrent heat exchangers surrounding the trachea. They are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Males can mate every year but the females mate every two to three years. The skulls of sea turtles have cheek regions that are enclosed in bone. Unlike their reptilian relatives, leatherbacks are able to maintain warm body temperatures in cold water by using a unique set of adaptations that allows them to both generate and retain body heat. [74], People around the world still harvest sea turtle eggs. The major cause of the decline was egg consumption by humans. A large pair of front flippers powers the turtles through the water. More than six feet long, weighing as much as 1400 pounds (636 kg), leatherbacks are the world's largest pelagic (ocean-going) turtles. Leatherback turtles are the only turtle species in the world that does not have a … In the Pacific, their range extends as far north as Alaska and south beyond the southernmost tip of New Zealand. Leatherback turtles are named for their shell, which is leather-like rather than hard, like other turtles. [102] In January 2010, one female at Pontal do Paraná laid hundreds of eggs. Our mission is to promote the conservation of leatherbacks and other turtles at risk of extinction. Eggs may be preyed on by a diversity of coastal predators, including ghost crabs, monitor lizards, raccoons, coatis, dogs, coyotes, genets, mongooses, and shorebirds ranging from small plovers to large gulls. The passing of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ratified its status. The giant leatherback turtle is the only sea turtle with a softshell back. The entire turtle's dorsal surface is colored dark grey to black, with a scattering of white blotches and spots. [43], Leatherback sea turtles can be found primarily in the open ocean. [19] After laying, the female carefully back-fills the nest, disguising it from predators with a scattering of sand. [45], Off the Atlantic coast of Canada, leatherback turtles feed in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence near Quebec and as far north as Newfoundland and Labrador. 1 Mechanics 2 Abilities 2.1 Passive Abilities 2.2 Active Abilities 3 Suitable Biomes 4 Diet 4.1 Hiding Places Sea turtles evolve into leatherback turtles. [25] A previous contender, the "Harlech turtle", was purportedly 256.5 cm (8.42 ft) in CCL and 916 kg (2,019 lb) in weight,[26][27] however recent inspection of its remains housed at the National Museum Cardiff have found that its true CCL is closer to 1.5 m (4.9 ft), casting doubt on the accuracy of the claimed weight, as well. [61] These turtles have the highest risk of encountering and ingesting plastic bags offshore of San Francisco Bay, the Columbia River mouth, and Puget Sound. Leatherback sea turtles are the biggest turtles on Earth. They choose beaches with soft sand because their softer shells and plastrons are easily damaged by hard rocks. The leatherback sea turtle is a pelagic swimmer, which means it is usually found only in deep, open water – usually beyond the continental shelf. The leatherback was then reclassified as Dermochelys coriacea. [54], Their favored breeding beaches are mainland sites facing the deep water, and they seem to avoid those sites protected by coral reefs. Nesting beaches also have shallower approach angles from the sea. [12][13], Both the turtle's common and scientific names come from the leathery texture and appearance of its carapace (Dermochelys coriacea literally translates to "Leathery Skin-turtle"). [35], Leatherback turtles are one of the deepest-diving marine animals. The eggs hatch in about 60 to 70 days. [57] Plastic enters the oceans along the west coast of urban areas, where leatherbacks forage, with Californians using upward of 19 billion plastic bags every year.[58]. The largest of all sea turtles and the fourth heaviest reptilian species in the world, the leatherback sea turtle can weigh up to … Is it normal for sea turtles to be found this far north, or is this a rare occurrence? [47], In mid-2007, the Malaysian Fisheries Department revealed a plan to clone leatherback turtles to replenish the country's rapidly declining population. [49] Further north, off the Pacific coast of Canada, leatherbacks visit the beaches of British Columbia. Leatherbacks undertake the longest migrations between breeding and feeding areas of any sea turtle, averaging 3,700 miles each way. They can be found in the tropic and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. 3. Other sea turtle species are smaller, being mostly 60–120 cm (2–4 ft) long and proportionally narrower. However, their sister taxon is the extinct family Protostegidae that included other species that did not have a hard carapace.[17][18]. Turtles are the best. [76] In the Caribbean, some cultures consider the eggs to be aphrodisiacs. Coupled with their countercurrent heat exchangers, insulating fat covering, and large size, leatherbacks are able to maintain high temperature differentials compared to the surrounding water. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys and family Dermochelyidae. Many turtles die from malabsorption and intestinal blockage following the ingestion of balloons and plastic bags which resemble their jellyfish prey. Leatherbacks are highly migratory, some swimming over 10,000 miles a year between nesting and foraging grounds. [31], Leatherbacks have been viewed as unique among extant reptiles for their ability to maintain high body temperatures using metabolically generated heat, or endothermy. Adults average 1–1.75 metres (3.3–5.7 ft) in shell length, 1.83–2.2 metres (6.0–7.2 ft) in total length and weigh 250 to 700 kilograms (550 to 1,540 lb). Adult leatherbacks have been found with core body temperatures that were 18 °C (32 °F) above the water in which they were swimming. It only became known in the 1980s that sea turtles undergo temperature-dependent sex determination; it is suspected that nearly all the artificially incubated hatchlings were female. Entanglement in lobster pot ropes is another hazard the animals face. Males never leave the water once they enter it, unlike females, which nest on land. The Groupo Tortugero Comaac uses ecological knowledge and modern technology to manage sea turtle populations. Female hatchlings that make it to sea will roam the oceans until they reach sexual maturity, when they return to the same nesting areas to produce their own offspring. [19] The leatherback is found in all tropical and subtropical oceans, and its range extends well into the Arctic Circle. Unlike other sea turtles, the leatherback does not have a hard, bony shell. The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and is the fourth-heaviest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth, growing up to seven feet long and exceeding 2,000 pounds. [75], They are also a major jellyfish predator,[50][77] which helps keep populations in check. [23], Mating takes place at sea. One female may lay as many as nine clutches in one breeding season. A third possible Pacific subpopulation has been proposed, those that nest in Malaysia. As with other reptiles, the nest's ambient temperature determines the sex of the hatchings. It is also the only sea turtles with a soft, rather than hard shell. Several species of sea turtles commonly ingest plastic marine debris, and even small quantities of debris can kill sea turtles by obstructing their digestive tracts. Once they enter the water, they become prey to predatory fish and cephalopods. These people devote ceremonies to the sea turtles, and when they noticed the decline of the sea turtle populations they dedicated a conservation movement. The shell is black, often speckled with white or yellow spots. [42][49], The continental United States offers two major Pacific leatherback feeding areas. Leatherba… 1. After mating at sea, females come ashore during the breeding season to nest. In 1996, a drowned carcass held sarcophagid and calliphorid flies after being picked open by a pair of Coragyps atratus vultures. [96], Earthwatch Institute, a global nonprofit that teams volunteer with scientists to conduct important environmental research, launched a program called "Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles". [23][24] The largest verified specimen ever found was discovered on the Pakistani beach of Sandspit and measured 213 cm (6.99 ft) in CCL and 650 kg (1,433 lb) in weight. [32] However, recent studies using reptile representatives encompassing all the size ranges leatherbacks pass through during ontogeny discovered the resting metabolic rate of a large D. coriacea is not significantly different from predicted results based on allometry. A leatherback sea turtle was found washed ashore in Denmark in November 2020. More Less Sea turtle, any of seven species of marine turtles belonging to the families Dermochelyidae (leatherback sea turtles) and Cheloniidae (green turtles, flatback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, hawksbills, and ridleys). They use both traditional ecological knowledge and Western technology to help manage the turtle populations and protect the turtle's natural environment.[80]. The other American area is located in California. The species is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as VU (Vulnerable),[1] and additionally with the following infraspecific taxa assessments: Conserving Pacific and Eastern Atlantic populations were included among the top-ten issues in turtle conservation in the first State of the World's Sea Turtles report published in 2006. [34], The leatherback turtle is a species with a cosmopolitan global range. Shaped for speed and built for strength, the Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, is a swift behemoth.It is a species of superlatives. Some individuals have been found to have almost 11 pounds of plastic in their stomachs. Nests are raided by humans in places such as Southeast Asia. Leatherback Sea Turtle. Customize your avatar OK. One well-studied area is just off the northwestern coast near the mouth of the Columbia River. [81], Light pollution is a serious threat to sea turtle hatchlings which have a strong attraction to light. Demonstrating countershading, the turtle's underside is lightly colored. Its exoskeleton, called carapace, is flexible and elongated, marked with seven ridges that run down the length of the shell. [59] Nutrient dilution, which occurs when plastics displace food in the gut, affects the nutrient gain and consequently the growth of sea turtles. [9] In 1843, the zoologist Leopold Fitzinger put the genus in its own family, Dermochelyidae. In sea turtle: Physical features and feeding habits. — Leatherback sea turtles that forage off the U.S. West Coast are trending towards extinction in as little as a few decades, according to a new survey published in Global Ecology and Conservation. [82], Many human activities indirectly harm Dermochelys populations. After nightfall, the hatchings dig to the surface and walk to the sea. They range as far north as the North Sea and to the Cape of Good Hope in the south. [38], They are also the fastest-moving non-avian reptiles. Thanks for the awesome facts! Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet—deeper than any other turtle—and can stay down for up to 85 minutes. [42], In Brazil, reproduction of the leatherback turtle is being assisted by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources' projeto TAMAR (TAMAR project), which works to protect nests and prevent accidental kills by fishing boats. [19] Chemical pollution also has an adverse effect on Dermochelys. Older names include "leathery turtle"[6] and "trunk turtle". Almost one-quarter (23.5%) of leatherback strandings are due to vessel-strike injuries, which is the highest cause of strandings. With leatherback populations declining more quickly than any other large animal in modern history, each turtle is precious. The contrast between this dark forest and the brighter, moonlit ocean provides directionality for the females. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/l/leatherback-sea-turtle.html. [7], Domenico Agostino Vandelli named the species first in 1761 as Testudo coriacea after an animal captured at Ostia and donated to the University of Padua by Pope Clement XIII. [Photo courtesy Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation] Lou Browning of Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation reported a sad find Saturday morning – a large leatherback sea turtle found dead on the soundside. This subpopulation, however, has effectively been eradicated. Typical dive durations are between 3 and 8 minutes, with dives of 30–70 minutes occurring infrequently. [14] The common names incorporating "lute" and "luth" compare the seven ridges that run the length of the animal's back to the seven strings on the musical instrument of the same name. [46], Estimates by the WWF suggest only 2,300 adult females of the Pacific leatherback remain, making it the most endangered marine turtle subpopulation.[50]. Instead, its carapace is covered by skin and oily flesh. Farther east in French Guiana, nesting is from March to August. While all other sea turtles have hard, bony shells, the inky-blue carapace of the leatherback is somewhat flexible and almost rubbery to the touch. Since leatherback sea turtles had been reported to nest only at Espírito Santo's shore, but never in the state of Paraná, this unusual act brought much attention to the area, biologists have been protecting the nests and checking their eggs' temperature, although it might be that none of the eggs are fertile. They are mainly pelagic (open ocean) wanderers but migrate to tropical and subtropical coastal regions to mate and nest. After encountering a female (which possibly exudes a pheromone to signal her reproductive status), the male uses head movements, nuzzling, biting, or flipper movements to determine her receptiveness. Some reports claim "30 years or more",[62] while others state "50 years or more". A high level of phthalates has been measured in their eggs' yolks. [42][47] Off the northeastern coast of the South American continent, a few select beaches between French Guiana and Suriname are primary nesting sites of several species of sea turtles, the majority being leatherbacks. Are leatherbacks normally found this far north? Young films the endangered creature feeding amongst the trash-strewn waves. The Seri people devote ceremonies and fiestas to the turtle when one is caught and then released back into the environment. [69] Dermochelys juveniles spend more of their time in tropical waters than do adults. Infestation by carrion-eating beetles of the families Scarabaeidae, Carabidae, and Tenebrionidae soon followed. Since 1998, the village has been assisting turtles with a hatchery program. Once in the ocean, young leatherbacks still face predation from cephalopods, requiem sharks, and various large fish. Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 lists D. coriacea as vulnerable, while Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992 lists it as endangered. They are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. This program strives to help save the world's largest turtle from extinction in Matura Beach, Trinidad, as volunteers work side by side with leading scientists and a local conservation group, Nature Seekers. A mix of male and female hatchlings occurs when the nest temperature is approximately 85.1 degrees Fahrenheit, while higher temperatures produce females and cooler temperatures produce males. Leatherback’s General Appearance . [60] Ingestion of marine debris and slowed nutrient gain leads to increased time for sexual maturation that may affect future reproductive behaviors. About nine days pass between nesting events. A leatherback sea turtle found dead Saturday, Jan. 9, on Hatteras Island. [34] This hunting strategy often places turtles in very frigid waters. In the eastern Pacific alone, a reported average of 1,500 mature females were accidentally caught annually in the 1990s. The Seri people, from the Mexican state of Sonora, find the leatherback sea turtle culturally significant because it is one of their five main creators. Despite their lack of a hard shell, the huge adults face fewer serious predators, though they are occasionally overwhelmed and preyed on by very large marine predators such as killer whales, great white sharks, and tiger sharks. [100] Leatherbacks used to nest in the thousands on Malaysian beaches, including those at Terengganu, where more than 3,000 females nested in the late 1960s. Leatherback Sea Turtle Physical Description. The waters of the Florida Keys are relatively shallow and are only rarely frequented by leatherbacks. [78], The turtle is known to be of cultural significance to tribes all over the world. The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) inhabits pelagic (open ocean) environments.Apparently following the blooms of its jellyfish prey, it moves widely throughout the oceans. The Leatherback Turtle is a tier 10 animal. However, human activity still endangers leatherback turtles in direct and indirect ways. Attaining an average length of eight-and-a-half feet and a weight in excess of 2000 pounds, the Leatherback is by far the largest of the ocean-going turtles and indeed is the largest of all living reptiles. These adaptations include large body size, changes in swimming activity and blood flow, and a thick layer of fat. The subspecies were later labeled invalid synonyms of D. [19] Due to their obligate feeding nature, leatherbacks help control jellyfish populations. They are also the only sea turtle with a soft, rubbery shell. Unlike other species of sea turtles, which have hard shells, the leatherback's shell is leathery; it feels almost rubbery. This is a vulnerability for the turtles because such beaches easily erode. Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth, growing up to seven feet long and exceeding 2,000 pounds. The group, made up of both youth and elders from the tribe, is called Grupo Tortuguero Comaac. [72][73], Leatherback nesting seasons vary by location; it occurs from February to July in Parismina, Costa Rica. [39][40] More typically, they swim at 1.80–10.08 km/h (1.12–6.26 mph). 2. [83] As the largest living sea turtles, turtle excluder devices can be ineffective with mature adults. The structural differentiation of body and organs (organogenesis) soon follows. Leatherbacks have the widest distribution of all sea turtle species. [101] The last official count of nesting leatherback females on that beach was recorded to be a mere two females in 1993. [28] The leatherback turtle is scarcely larger than any other sea turtle upon hatching, as they average 61.3 mm (2.41 in) in carapace length and weigh around 46 g (1.6 oz) when freshly hatched. [5][42] While nesting beaches have been identified in the region, leatherback populations in the Indian Ocean remain generally unassessed and unevaluated. The leatherback sea turtle one of the largest living reptiles (the saltwater crocodile is generally considered the largest) and the largest species of sea turtles. [94] In 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designated 41,914 square miles of Pacific Ocean along California, Oregon, and Washington as "critical habitat". Development then resumes, but embryos remain extremely susceptible to movement-induced mortality until the membranes fully develop after incubating for 20 to 25 days. Parismina is an isolated sandbar where a large number of leatherbacks lay eggs, but poachers abound. [8] In 1816, French zoologist Henri Blainville coined the term Dermochelys. [75] In Malaysia, where the turtle is practically locally extinct, the eggs are considered a delicacy. [16] The dermochelyids are relatives of the family Cheloniidae, which contains the other six extant sea turtle species. (32.72 °F). The leatherback has several characteristics that distinguish it from other sea turtles. Pacific leatherback sea turtles mistake these plastic bags for jellyfish; an estimated one-third of adults have ingested plastic. One population nests on beaches in Papua, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, and forages across the Pacific in the Northern Hemisphere, along the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington in North America. More than 30,000 turtles nest on Mayumba's beaches between September and April each year. [43], Recent estimates of global nesting populations are that 26,000 to 43,000 females nest annually, which is a dramatic decline from the 115,000 estimated in 1980. Leatherback turtles are 4.5 to 5.5 feet (1.4 to 1.7 m) long and weigh up to 2,200 pounds (998 kg). The Seri people of Mexico believe that the leatherback sea turtle is one of the five main creators of the world. It is estimated that only about one in a thousand leatherback hatchlings survive to adulthood. Fertilization is internal, and multiple males usually mate with a single female. Shorebirds and crustaceans prey on the hatchings scrambling for the sea. The eastern Atlantic nesting population was threatened by increased fishing pressures from eastern South American countries. [citation needed], Relatives of modern leatherback turtles have existed in relatively the same form since the first true sea turtles evolved over 110 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.

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