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From: Ray Davis, Assistant of Curator of Fishes, SeaWorld Orlando
Category: Pick a Topic
Date: 4/19/99
Time: 5:03:10 PM
Remote Name: 151.145.250.253
The leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, belongs to the family Dermochelydae. It can be found in all of the tropical and sub-tropical oceans of the world. They have been seen as far north as the Arctic Circle. Leatherback sea turtles are the most wide ranging reptile in the world.
The leatherback sea turtle can keep its body warmer than the water by a countercurrent circulatory system. Additionally, their massive size helps them hold heat longer and their dark color helps to absorb heat more effectively.
Their possible predators are sharks. The other threat they face is the threat of egg poachers on their nests and the resulting decline in offspring.
Books: The Biology of Sea Turtles ISBN 0-8493-8422-2 Turtles of the World ISBN 0-87474-414-8
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database
www.seaworld.org / www.buschgardens.org
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