F. Wayne King photo.
Leatherback Sea Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea
Leatherbacks are the largest of the sea turtles. Large adults may measure 7 feet (2.1 m) in length and weigh more than 1,000 pounds (454 kg). As suggested by their name, the shell of the leatherback is covered with a tough leathery skin rather than the horny scutes found on the shells of the other sea turtles. The frontlimbs are long and paddle-like. Leatherbacks nest on Fort Matanzas National Monument beaches during the summer months. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the leatherback as an 'Endangered Species'. It feeds on jellyfish. Occasionally one will swallow a discarded plastic bag, which it mistakes for a jellyfish. Unfortunately, the plastic bags can obstruct the turtle's intestine.
