Dermochelys Coriacea
Leatherback sea turtles are among the list of endangered species. They are the largest sea turtles. As they can grow as tall as 2 meters (6.5feet) and roughly weights 636kg (1,400lbs). Leatherback turtles were name leatherback because of its shell looks like leather similarly a thick leathery skin with texture of rubber. Its flipper is larger than its body and it’s also one of the reasons that this kind of sea turtle differs from other kinds of sea turtles. The Leatherback sea turtles lack claws on their flippers and their exoskeleton (carapace) has seven longitudinal ridges and are tapered. The ridge and large flippers are uniquely equipped for long distance migrations.
Leatherback sea turtles are circumglobal species because they can be found in any parts of the oceans. Their capabilities to swim as fast as 22 miles per hour and can manage body heat even at colder region makes them travel around the globe. This nature of leatherback sea turtle to keep its temperature warmer even at colder water is because of their ability to turnoff blood flow away from its flippers.
Base on studies male leatherback sea turtles once struggles inside the egg during hatching period and makes its way to the sea as a 4 inch (10cm) hatchling, they may never come back to the shore they were hatch during its lifetime. Although a female can lie as much as 100-150 eggs the vulnerability of its hatchling is tolled. Predators like raccoons, seabirds, sharks and large species of fish loves to eat a hatchling crunchy and delicious. That even human beings are tempted to do so.
Their population is endangered that base on survey there are 100,000 leatherback sea turtles during the 80’s. In Mexico there were about 6,500 plus nesting ground but as of 1993 only 50 nesting left. The increase number of human population endangered most species that habitat on sea shore. More humans become sea turtle predator. They wait until the female laid their eggs and after witch dug on and sale or even use it for their diet. The worst thing is some humans even capture the female leatherback turtle and export their parts to countries that have a traditional soup where main ingredient is the parts of the sea turtle. In some areas some people manage to get 100% of the laid eggs. Not even left a group of 5 or 10 just to let them survive and breed in the near future. Those numbers of eggs is a great number but the vulnerability of its hatchling will give them 20% chances of survival. Increase number of beaches disturbed the nesting / breeding process of sea turtles. Their habitat becomes extremely over-crowded and it forces them to find a new place to hatch and end up with even worst country like Japan. Where approximately exporting about 1.5 million shells of sea turtles. Some are raising them inland and harvest them the essence of wildlife has come to an end.
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