What Does a Leatherback Sea Turtle Look Like?
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest reptile on Earth. Adult turtles can grow to 2 meters long and weigh up to 900 kilograms. Interestingly, leatherback sea turtles do not have a hard shell like other turtles. Instead, they have leathery skin that covers a series of bony plates. Very large front flippers help them swim faster and migrate farther than any other sea turtle. Where Do Leatherback Sea Turtles Live, Breed, and Eat? Leatherbacks live in a wide variety of places in the ocean. In fact, they are the most far-ranging of the sea turtles. Leatherbacks swim from tropical areas, where they nest, all the way to cooler temperate seas. When in the open ocean, they feed on jellyfish and other floating organisms. When they are feeding along the coast, leatherbacks eat crustaceans like shrimp, mollusks like clams and mussels, and other high protein foods. Female leatherbacks return to coastal beaches to build their nests and lay eggs every 2-3 years. They lay about 100 eggs in each ne
