Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Not assigned | Testudines | Dermochelyidae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 1250 m (Ref. 78668), usually 0 - 200 m (Ref. 78668). Tropical; 72°N - 49°S, 180°W - 180°E (Ref. 1397)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Circumglobal.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 121.0 range ? - ? cm Max length : 257 cm CL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1397); common length : 916,000 cm CL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1397); max. published weight: 650.0 kg (Ref. 99323)

Short description Morphology

Color is uniformly dark. Shell not as solid; with 5 longitudinal ridges; approximately 2 m or more. Lacks firm internal skeleton.

Deepest dive recorded based on Ref. 86780, usually epipelagic (Refs. 78668, 85378). They are commonly found in the upper 200 m (Ref. 85786). Hatchlings and juveniles are assumed to be pelagic, migrating in search of food. Adults mainly feed on pelagic invertebrates, e.g., jellyfishes, tunicates, crustaceans and juvenile fishes. In some places it is used as bait for long line shark fisheries but this species have no commercial fisheries (Ref. 1397), although pelagic fisheries has been identified as a major source of its mortality (Ref. 85378). An example of this is the 1.4 million hooks deployed in the Atlantic daily (Ref. 85362). Declining populations have been reported in the Pacific (Ref. 85365). For conservation purposes, breeding interval between regions is important to note. The interval is generally longer in the Pacific than in the Atlantic and can be up to 7 years (Ref. 86781). Knowledge on leatherback turtle movements is important to determine areas where they may at high risk due to fisheries (Ref. 85378). Also, population estimates needs to be based on years of monitoring since each female only nests every few years (Ref. 85379).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Mating usually lasts for 20 minutes. Nesting cycle varies from latitude and geographical characteristics of the coast. Nesting cycle is 2 or 3 years which usually lays 61 to 126 eggs per clutch for 4 or 5 times per season. Incubation period varies from 50 to 78 days depending on temperature and humidity. Survival rate is lower if incubation period is shorter.

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Hirth, H.F. 1993. (Ref. 97534)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd); Date assessed: 21 June 2013

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Appendix I: International trade banned

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Appendix I & II: Endangered migratory species conserved through agreements

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial
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Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 3.1 - 28.9, mean 20 (based on 10218 cells).

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.03-0.14; tm=16.1).

Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Very high vulnerability (85 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

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