Common name : Lute turtle, Leathery turtle
Scientific name : Dermochelys coriacea
Family : Dermochelyidae
Native to : Distributed around the world as they are migratory
Interesting fact : They can stay under water for up to 85 minutes.
Conservation status : Vulnerable
The leatherback is the largest turtle in the world measuring 7 feet long. The tear-drop shaped shell is dark blue, leathery and lined with seven longitudinal ridges. Their large flippers make them excellent swimmers. Living in the ocean, their main food is jellyfish. Floating plastic debris is a hazard as it is mistaken for a jellyfish. They live for 45 years.
