Leatherback Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

The leatherback is the largest living turtle. It can measure up to 2.4m in length and weigh up to 725kg. It is a strong swimmer and spends most of its life at sea, coming ashore to lay eggs. In Canada, it is more common on the east coast between june and october, than on the west coast between july and september. The leatherback is a migratory animal, swimming for long distances while feeding mainly on jellifish. Poor nesting success is the main factor in the turtles decline. Collection of eggs by humans, predation by other species, and the loss of beaches to commercial development all hinder nesting success. As a result, the leatherback turtle is protected by law in a number of countries and recovery efforts have been in place since 1986.