Quick answer
Key facts about leatherback sea turtle — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Deep diving
Leatherbacks dive over 1,000 metres pursuing jellyfish — deepest of any turtle. Flexible leathery shell withstands pressure better than rigid plates.
Thermoregulation
Counter-current heat exchangers and large body size let leatherbacks enter cold Canadian and North Sea waters — unique among reptiles.
Plastic tragedy
Plastic bags resemble jellyfish — ingestion kills many leatherbacks. Single-use plastic bans directly benefit this species.
Nesting beaches
Tropical nesting from Costa Rica to Gabon — eggs face poaching and erosion. Hatchlings cross open beach to sea under predation pressure.