10 Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles

Post On: December 15, 2016
By: Agustina

Find out the interesting information about the four heaviest modern reptiles on Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles. The biological name is Dermochelys coriacea. The common name is leathery turtle or lute turtle. Of all living turtles in the world, it is the heaviest one. This turtle is included in the family Dermochelyidae and genus Dermochelys. Let us check facts about leatherback sea turtles below:

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 1: the differences

The differences of modern sea turtles and leatherback sea turtles are spotted.  The carapace of the latter ones is covered by the oily flesh and skin. It also has lack of bony shell.

Leatherback Sea Turtle Facts

Leatherback Sea Turtle Facts

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 2: the body design

The body design of leatherback turtles is unique. It comes in teardrop shape. Moreover, the body is large. Compared to any sea turtles, it has the most hydrodynamic one.

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Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 3: the front flippers

The leatherback sea turtles have the front flippers that they use to propel the body in the water.



Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 4: the open ocean

Swimming in the open ocean is not a big deal for leatherback sea turtles due to the presence of the flattened fore limbs.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 5: the size of the flippers

The flippers of the leatherback sea turtles are considered as the largest ones among all sea turtles in the world. The large specimens of leather back sea turtles have the front flippers measured at 8.9 feet or 2.7 meter.

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 6: the adult ones

The weight of adult leatherback sea turtles is measured at 550 to 1,540 lb or 250 to 700 kilogram. The total length of turtles is around to 7.2 feet.

Leatherback Sea Turtles

Leatherback Sea Turtles

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 7:  the largest specimen

The largest specimen of leatherback sea turtles has the weight of 1,433 lb or 650 kilogram. It was found on Sanspit, a Pakistani Beach.

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 8: the metabolism rate

The metabolism rate of leatherback sea turtles is 3 times higher than that of other reptiles with the similar size.

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Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 9: the resting day

Leatherback sea turtles have high level of activity. The reports suggest that it only spends 0.1 percent of the day to rest.

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles

Facts about Leatherback Sea Turtles 10: the high temperature

The leatherback sea turtles have the ability to keep the body in high temperature by having constant swimming.

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