Leatherback turtles are the largest of all seven species of sea turtles, with adults reaching up to two metres in length and weighing up to 600kg. Aside from their size, their white spots help to distinguish them from other species of turtle.
The Leatherback takes its name from the leathery, rubber-like skin which covers its back – in place of the tough and inflexible keratin shell which other sea turtles possess. The distinctive teardrop shape and the absence of claws on their flippers also distinguish them from other species of turtle.
Their soft shell and streamline shape allow Leatherbacks to swim further and deeper than any other sea turtle, sometimes swimming up to 10,000 miles each year. This in-turn means they are the most widely spread sea turtle species in the world, and can be found as far north as Iceland and as far south as South Africa. Scotland’s jellyfish-rich waters attract Leatherbacks to feed here every summer.
Leatherbacks primarily eat jellyfish, but also eat squid, fish, and occasionally seaweed. This preference for low-energy, low-protein food means than an adult leatherback needs to consume 75% of its body weight every day to meet energy demands.
Leatherbacks have been around for over 65 million years, and have been relatively unchanged since the Jurassic Period. As such, they are fundamental to the health of marine ecosystems.
Image: © Andy Bowen / Marine Conservation Society
Action Needed
- Campaign for the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme and other circular economy measures, including the introduction of a reuse scheme, to drive down marine litter which threatens these creatures’ habitats.
- Take part in a Beachwatch event.
- Encourage members of the public to report turtle sightings, as illustrated here.
- Highlight the impacts of climate change on marine habitats, and press the Scottish Government to play its role in tackling this.
Threats
- Marine litter – plastic in particular – can threaten marine habitats. Leatherbacks can also mistake plastic bags for jellyfish (their main prey), which can be damaging if ingested.
- Leatherbacks can be at risk from bycatch, where they are unintentionally caught in fishing gear such as longlines, nets, and trawls. This has driven population declines in Pacific and Atlantic leatherback populations.
- Rising sea levels, resulting from climate change, can erode nesting sites on beaches. Warmer sands can also skew hatchling sex ratios towards females, causing population imbalances.
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