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Endangered Species

Leatherback Turtle

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The Leatherback Turtle is a large marine turtle. The carapace of the leatherback features a leathery, cartilaginous covering rather than scales. The animal’s paddle-shaped front flippers are typically as long as or longer than half its body. Leatherbacks have black or dark blue backs with white and pink blotches and a white belly. Leatherback turtles are the only marine turtle that do not have scales.

Habitat & Range

Leatherbacks range from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The main nesting beaches are found in Mexico, Costa Rica Irian Jaya, French Guiana, Suriname and Gabon. In Canada, he waters off Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island have all reported turtle sightings.

Scientific Name

Dermochelys coriacea

Conservation Status

COSEWIC Status: Endangered
SARA Status: Endangered

Size

Adults average around 880 lbs and a length of 5 ft.

Population

The world population is estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 nesting females in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. This is only about a quarter of the population from 20 years ago.

Diet

Leatherbacks feed principally on jellyfish and other soft-bodied pelagic invertebrates

Leatherback Turtles in Newfoundland & Labrador

When feeding on jellyfish near the surface in the summer and early fall, leatherback turtles can be observed in the coastal waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. The majority of sightings have place in southern Newfoundland.

A group called Tangly Whales collaborates with the DFO National Marine Mammal Response Program in Newfoundland and Labrador to record instances of marine mammals and leatherback turtles being entangled and, when possible, helps with their release.

THREATS

This species is unusually vulnerable to even slight increases mortality of adults and older juveniles due to its long lifespan, extremely high rates of egg and hatchling mortality, and late age of maturity.

Entanglement in fishing gear poses a threat to adult turtles since it can cause drowning or other severe injuries or even death. Additionally, mature leatherbacks may confuse floating trash with jellyfish (for example, plastic bags). Ingesting such substances usually ends in death.

CURRENT PROTECTIONS

Under the Species at Risk Act, it is forbidden to kill, injure, harass, or take a live leatherback turtle. Additionally, it is illegal for anyone to own a turtle, whether it is living or dead.

further resources

Recovery Strategy

Recovery plan that is in place for the northwest Atlantic population of the Loggerhead sea turtle, made by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service.

NOAA Loggerhead Sea Turtle Info Page

Published by NOAA on Loggerhead Sea Turtles.

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© Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter