If you have ever visited the beach and seen a Leather Back, you may wonder how it got its name. First of all, it’s a sea turtle. The largest species of turtles, they feed on soft-bodied animals. And you might have even seen a few scurrying along the beach. While not terribly attractive, they can be dangerous for humans. However, you can prevent this from happening by following a few safety precautions.
Marine turtle
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest and heaviest of all the living species of turtle. At 1.8 metres long, they are the largest non-crocodilian reptiles. These amazing creatures can weigh up to 500 kg. Their size makes them great targets for the aquarium trade. This article will introduce you to some of the common species found in the ocean. You’ll discover how to spot them, how they live, and what you can do to protect them.
Largest turtle species
The Leather Back turtle is the largest turtle in the world. It grows up to two meters in length and weighs almost 900 kilograms. This reptile lays clutches of about 100 egg yolkless eggs every two years. Leatherback turtles nest on beaches and rivers throughout tropical and subtropical regions and can lay several clutches per nesting season. Their young are called leatherbacks. It is important to protect leatherback turtle eggs from predators.
Eats soft-bodied animals
The leatherback shark is a carnivore, with scissor-like jaws that enable it to suck up soft-bodied animals. It has been tracked crossing the Pacific Ocean, feeding on swarms of jellyfish off coasts. It also commonly eats floating plastic bags. Leatherbacks have spine-like structures in their mouth and throat, making them an ideal diet for them.
Nests on beaches
If you are interested in the importance of leatherbacks to the environment, you should know that there are several ways you can help protect them. One way is to minimize their impact on the beach. It’s also important to protect them from severe alteration. While the exact reasons why leatherbacks use beaches are still unclear, there are some things you can do to protect them. Below are a few examples of beach habitats that may support Leather Backs.
Moves into coastal waters only during reproductive season
The Leather Back only approaches coastal waters during its reproductive season. The turtles typically nest in the Caribbean, on the Pacific Coast of Central America, and along the east coast of Florida. During its nesting season, they lay six to nine egg clutches containing approximately 80 fertilized eggs the size of billiard balls and up to 30 smaller unfertilized ones. The clutches incubate for 65 days.
Population trends
Leatherback populations have declined in some areas of the world in recent years. This decline has resulted in a classification of these animals as Critically Endangered globally by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2000. While these animals were thought to be thriving in their former range, recent data from beach monitoring in Costa Rica and Mexico shows that these populations are in decline. The decline in their number has been largely mirrored by previous models.