Leatherback Sea Turtle Endangered Species Project

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Leatherback Sea Turtle Endangered Species Project

• Riley Heneghan

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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• The leatherback sea turtle reminded me of Crush,
  the turtle in the movie, Finding Nemo.
• He looked cool and I wanted to research him and
  other turtles like him and that was the reason I
  choose this animal.

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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• Dermochelys coriacea scientific name
• The leatherback is the largest of all living sea
  turtles, adults average at between 4 to 6 feet
  long and weigh from around 550 to 1,500 pounds.
• It has no bony shell, instead it is covered by
  skin and oily flesh. The turtle's top surface is
  colored dark grey to black and it usually has
  white spots.
• This reptile has no teeth but it has sharp
  cutting points on the beak of its mouth.
• The adult leatherback's flippers are huge!

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Leatherback Sea Turtle
Leatherback turtles are primarily found in the
open ocean. The turtles prefer deep cold water
near land because that is where the food is!
Florida is a major nesting area
Yellow circles show minor nesting locations and
the Red circles are major nesting sites.
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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• The Leatherback Sea Turtles diet consists of
  mainly jellyfish octopus.

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Leatherback Sea Turtle
National Geographic for Kids
http//kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/Creatur
eFeature/Leatherback-sea-turtle
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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• The average life span of the turtle is 45 years.
• Females often return to the same nesting areas
  where they were born to lay their eggs.

The beaches where they are born are generally
free from rocks and have a gentle slope.
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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• The Leatherback Sea Turtle is a major jellyfish
  predator which helps keep the jellyfish
  populations in check.
• Without the Leatherback Sea Turtle there would be
  too many jellyfish. If that were to happen,
  then the fishermen would have a hard time
  catching fish and industries working on the ocean
  would be overrun with jellies.

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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• The United States has listed the leatherback
  turtle as an endangered species since June 2,
  1970 (My Dads 3rd birthday ?)
• Only about 1 out of a 1,000 hatched leatherback
  sea turtles survive to be an adult.
• They are endangered of becoming extinct because
  their eggs are eaten or stepped on by people.
  Baby turtles are also eaten by birds and larger
  fish.
• Turtles get confused by lights on beach houses
  after hatching and do not make it back into the
  water.

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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• In the U.S., both federal and state governments,
  have passed rules to reduce threats to sea
  turtles.
• Because the turtles swim so far, other countries
  need to help to protect the turtles too.
• One law forces commercial fishermen to use
  special nets that let the turtles escape.

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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• Interesting Facts
• The population has decreased 90 in the last 20
  years.
• The temperature in the nest on the beach
  determines if a hatchling will be male or female
• the "tears" that turtles "cry" are just their way
  of shedding excess salt

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Leatherback Sea Turtle

• Be a Friend to the LeatherbackDO NOT
• drive or walk on the beach above the high tide
  line- this crushes eggs and hatchlings in the
  nest!
• walk on the beach at night- this scares turtles
  away
• walk/stand in front of turtle
• plant anything on the beach or dunes
• use lights on the beach
• use flash photography or video around a turtle
• buy products made from turtles DO
• speak very softly if near a turtle
• use red lights instead of white on the exterior
  of your house if it is visible from the beach
• tell a park official if you see any practices
  that may be harmful to turtles
• appreciate this fascinating animal
• share your knowledge of leatherbacks with others

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Leatherback Sea Turtle
Bibliography

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherback_turtle
• http//www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/leath
  erback.htm
• http//animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/rept
  iles/leatherback-sea-turtle.html
• http//www.turtles.org/leatherd.htm
• Photo http//www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/gifts/frie
  nds/reptiles/sea-turtle-leatherback-plastic-f953.j
  pg
• Photo http//costaricanconservationnetwork.files.w
  ordpress.com/2009/09/leatherback.jpg
• Photo http//headswillrollonline.files.wordpress.c
  om/2009/09/lgmp0351crush-the-turtle-finding-nemo-m
  ini-poster.jpg
• Photo http//imagecache2.allposters.com/images/SON
  IS/C1439.jpg
• Video http//kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/C
  reatureFeature/Leatherback-sea-turtle
• Photo http//www.afma.gov.au/information/students/
  methods/ted.htm