5/2/2023 0 Comments Leatherback seaturtle![]() Leatherback turtle eggs are considered aphrodisiacs in various regions of the Caribbean.The leatherback turtle is the only turtles who have skin over the shells rather than bone.The leatherback turtle can dive deeper than any other turtle in the world.The leatherback turtle can hold their breath for over an hour.The leatherback turtle has been around for thousands of years and have not changed significantly since the time of the dinosaurs.The leatherback turtle is the largest turtle in the world.They are being tracked by satellites to provide data about where they feed, and their marine habitats are often protected in an attempt to ensure that the species does not become critically endangered. Globally, their population is in decline, so people are barred from intentionally causing harm to them. Conservation StatusĬonservationists consider the leatherback turtle to be vulnerable, and they have been considered endangered in the United States since 1970. The result is that hundreds of leatherback turtles are caught by fishermen every year. Other Threatsīecause of their size, leatherback sea turtles are too large to benefit from the turtle excluder devices used by fishermen to avoid turtles being caught within their nets. As well, before they hatch, mammals and birds will often eat the turtles’ eggs. Shorebirds, such as storks or herons, often prey on the hatchlings as they struggle to get across the beach upon which they are born. However, when they are young and small, they are more vulnerable. Leatherback sea turtles have very few natural predators, likely due to their size. These devoured plastic bags can kill the leatherback turtles through either malabsorption or intestinal blockage. The most damaging impact has been the introduction of discarded plastic, especially disposable plastic shopping bags, into the ocean environment.īecause leatherback turtles mostly eat soft food, they mistake the floating plastic bags for jellyfish, the primary staple of their diet. They also have become entangled in the ropes of lobster pots. Rising chemical pollution levels in the ocean has led researchers to find high levels of phthalates in the yokes of their eggs. Unfortunately, many other environmental changes caused by people have had negative impacts on leatherback turtles. Climate Change & Global Warmingīecause leatherback turtles can adapt to a wide variety of climates, changing temperatures themselves are unlikely to have a devastating impact on these turtles. However, if, when they hatch, there are artificial sources of light present, they may be attracted to those instead, meaning they never find the ocean. When they are born, they are drawn towards light, because normally the light they would see would be over the horizon, as opposed to dark forests or hills away from the sea. In addition to these threats, light pollution can also be fatal for young leatherback hatchlings. However, people are more likely to collect their eggs for food, as people sometimes consider sea turtle eggs a rare delicacy, especially in Asia. Human ThreatsĪlthough humans rarely intentionally hunt leatherback turtles, they often end up as the unfortunate recipient of harm from people.Īlthough fewer leatherbacks are injured by people than other sea turtles, many are struck by boats as they swim up near the surface for breath.Įven though people do not eat leatherback turtles, some are hunted and used as feed for subsistence fisheries. ![]() However, many conservationists worry about leatherback turtles, as estimates suggest that only one out of every thousand hatchlings reaches maturity. The leatherback turtle faces an array of threats, most of them coming from people or the by-products of human activities, rather than other animals. Researchers are often surprised by their diets because leatherback turtles are large and active animals, and jellyfish are not a substantial source of calories or nutrition.īecause jellyfish are mostly made of water, they typically only contain a few grams of protein and provide the predator with a limited amount of calories.Įven the largest jellyfish only provide the turtle with approximately one hundred calories, and because leatherback turtles are so large, they have to eat a lot of jellyfish to meet their caloric needs.
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