# Leatherback Sea Turtle (*Dermochelys coriacea*)

> The leatherback is the largest sea turtle in the world and one of the widest-ranging reptiles, swimming across every ocean from the tropics to the cold edges of the Arctic. It reaches 1.8 m (6 ft) long, weighs 250 to 700 kg (550 to 1,540 lb) and feeds almost entirely on jellyfish. A strong swimmer, it can move at up to 35 km/h (22 mph) and lives around 40 to 45 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.

- **Category:** Reptile
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** All oceans from Arctic edges to tropical nesting beaches — most wide-ranging sea turtle.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/leatherback-turtle/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Testudines
- **Family:** Dermochelyidae
- **Genus:** Dermochelys

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Dermochelys coriacea |
| Diet | Carnivore — jellyfish and salps almost exclusively |
| Habitat | Oceans worldwide from tropics to Arctic edges |
| Lifespan | 40–45 years in the wild |
| Weight | 250–700 kg (550–1,540 lb); largest of all turtles |
| Top speed | Up to 35 km/h (22 mph) swimming |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## A shell like no other turtle

Unlike every other sea turtle, the leatherback has no hard bony shell. Instead its back is covered by a layer of tough, rubbery, oil-saturated skin over a mosaic of tiny bones, giving the animal its name. Seven raised ridges run the length of this teardrop-shaped body, streamlining it for a life of constant swimming. This flexible design lets the leatherback dive deeper than any other turtle, plunging beyond 1,000 m in search of prey.

## The giant jellyfish specialist

The leatherback feeds almost exclusively on jellyfish and their relatives, the salps. Its throat is lined with backward-pointing spines that trap this slippery, gelatinous food and stop it slipping back out. Because jellyfish are mostly water, an adult must eat a huge volume every day to fuel its enormous body. This narrow diet leaves the turtle dangerously vulnerable to floating plastic bags, which it easily mistakes for a jellyfish and swallows.

## Warm-blooded among reptiles

The leatherback is unusually good at keeping warm for a reptile, which is how it can feed in near-freezing water off Canada and Norway. Its large body, thick insulating fat and heat-generating muscles let it hold a core temperature well above the surrounding sea. This ability, sometimes called gigantothermy, makes it the most cold-tolerant of all turtles. It is one of the few reptiles regularly found in sub-polar waters.

## Nesting and reproduction

Females return to tropical beaches every two to three years to nest, often crossing entire oceans to reach them. Over a single season a female may come ashore several times, each time digging a deep pit and laying around 80 fertile eggs. The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings, with warmer nests producing more females. After about two months, palm-sized hatchlings dig their way out and scramble to the sea, where only a tiny fraction survive to adulthood.

## An ocean traveller

Leatherbacks are among the most migratory of all animals, tracking blooms of jellyfish across thousands of kilometres of open ocean. Individuals tagged in the tropical Atlantic have been recorded feeding off the coasts of Canada and Europe within the same year. Powerful front flippers, which can span more than 2.5 m tip to tip, drive them along at speeds of up to 35 km/h. This wandering lifestyle spreads the species across a wider range than almost any other reptile.

## Why it is threatened

The leatherback is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and several regional populations have collapsed dramatically. The main threats are the harvesting of eggs, accidental capture in fishing gear, and the loss of nesting beaches to development and rising seas. Swallowed plastic and warming sand that skews hatchling sex ratios add further pressure. Protecting key nesting beaches and reducing bycatch are the most important steps for the species' recovery.

## Frequently asked questions

### How big is a leatherback turtle?

Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth. They reach about 1.8 m (6 ft) in length and weigh between 250 and 700 kg (550 to 1,540 lb), far heavier than any hard-shelled sea turtle.

### What do leatherback turtles eat?

Leatherbacks eat almost nothing but jellyfish and their relatives, the salps. Backward-pointing spines in their throat help them grip and swallow this soft, slippery prey.

### Why is it called a leatherback?

Unlike other sea turtles, it has no hard bony shell. Its back is covered by tough, leathery, rubbery skin over a layer of small bones, which is where the name comes from.

### How long do leatherback turtles live?

Leatherbacks are thought to live around 40 to 45 years in the wild. Their exact lifespan is hard to measure because they spend almost their whole lives far out at sea.

### How fast can a leatherback turtle swim?

Leatherbacks are powerful swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 35 km/h (22 mph). Their large front flippers, spanning over 2.5 m, propel them across entire oceans.

### Are leatherback turtles endangered?

Leatherbacks are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and some regional populations have declined sharply. Egg harvesting, accidental capture in fishing nets and the loss of nesting beaches are the biggest threats.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Dermochelys coriacea.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Dermochelys%20coriacea&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Dermochelys coriacea. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dermochelys_coriacea/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/leatherback-turtle/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.