Leatherback Sea Turtles [Dermochelys]

Description

Dermochelys is the sole genus within the family Dermochelyidae, comprising the single living species known as the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). This genus is distinguished by its lack of a bony shell, which is instead replaced by a leathery carapace covered with oily flesh and flexible, embedded bony plates. Leatherback sea turtles are the largest of all living turtles and are highly migratory, found in all tropical and subtropical oceans, and as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. They are known for their deep dives into the abyssal depths to hunt jellyfish, their primary food source. Dermochelys coriacea is critically endangered, facing threats from habitat loss, marine pollution, and incidental capture in fishing gear.

Species

Taxonomy