Leatherback Seaturtle

The most comprehensive book ever written on leatherback sea turtles. Weighing as much as 2,000 pounds and reaching lengths of over seven feet, leatherback turtles are the world’s largest reptile. These unusual sea turtles have a thick, pliable shell that helps them to withstand great depths—they can swim more than one thousand meters below the surface in search of food. And what food source sustains these goliaths? Their diet consists almost exclusively of jellyfish, a meal they crisscross the oceans to find. Leatherbacks have been declining in recent decades, and some predict they will be gone by the end of this century. Why? Because of two primary factors: human redevelopment of nesting beaches and commercial fishing. There are only twenty-nine index beaches in the world where these turtles nest, and there is immense pressure to develop most of them into homes or resorts. At the same time, longline and gill net fisheries continue to overwhelm waters frequented by leatherbacks. In The Leatherback Turtle, James R. Spotila and Pilar Santidrián Tomillo bring together the world’s leading experts to produce a volume that reveals the biology of the leatherback while putting a spotlight on the conservation problems and solutions related to the species. The book leaves us with options: embark on the conservation strategy laid out within its pages and save one of nature’s most splendid creations, or watch yet another magnificent species disappear.

"The leatherback seaturtle is the world's largest reptile. It is significantly larger than all other marine turtles"--p. [1].

Leatherback sea turtles face one of their lives' biggest challenges as soon as they're hatched. Crawling out of their eggs on the sandy shore, they hurry to the sea in a race to escape those who see them as a tasty meal. If they survive and thrive, they can grow longer than an adult male is tall and weigh as much as a small car! Learn more about these amazing animals, including where they live, what they eat, the many challenges they face in their lives, and what you can do to help.

"This book covers information (life cycle, appearance, habitat) about the leatherback sea turtle. Each chapter discusses an aspect of the turtle's life, comparing it to a similar reptile and to a very different reptile"--

As fall days grow darker and the sun doesn’t shine as bright, leatherback sea turtles sense the change in seasons and head out to sea. They make their way to their home beaches to nest. About 100 eggs fill each hole! Readers can follow the leatherbacks as they cruise along ocean currents in this engaging title.

Leatherbacks are sometimes called the last of the dinosaurs because their ancient ancestors lived when the dinosaurs did. Their ability to swim long distances may be one of the reasons they survived whatever killed most of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. In modern times, one leatherback swam from Indonesia to Oregon. It had traveled 12,774 miles in 647 days, the longest distance ever tracked for a marine animalThese sea turtles are also known for returning to the same nesting sites from which they hatched. Hatchling leatherbacks make a mad dash from the sand to the sea to avoid air and land predators. While gains have been made to improve the turtles' chances against commercial fishing techniques, humans have continued building on nesting beaches and polluting the oceans. Find out what other threats the leatherbacks face, and what you can do to help protect these endangered reptiles of the sea.

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of the leatherback turtle and discusses some of the reasons it is in danger of extinction.