CREDIT: P. C. H. PRITCHARD 



LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE 



Dermochelys coriacea Linnaeus 



KINGDOM Animalia 



CLASS Reptilia 



ORDER Testudinata 



FAMILY Dermochelyidae 



OTHER COMMON NAMES leathery turtle 



DATES 



Entered into SWIS to be determined 



Updates: . .22 September 1976, 20 January 1977. 



LEGAL STATUS 



Federal: Endangered (35 FR 8495;2June 1970). 



States: Endangered: Georgia, Maryland, 



Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, 

 South Carolina, Texas. 

 Protected: Alabama 



REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS 



General population reduction and overuse by 

 humans are the primary factors determining the 

 status of leatherback turtles. Exposure and vul- 

 nerability while nesting make overharvesting by 

 man possible. 



Sea turtles require relatively undisturbed 

 beaches for nesting. Increasing development and 

 human activity on beaches is incompatible with 

 successful turtle reproduction. Illumination of 

 beaches at night can distract hatchlings away 

 from the sea (McFarlane 1963). 



Harvesting eggs has put tremendous pressure 

 on this species. Occasionally adults are slaughtered 

 on nesting beaches. Meat is used as fish bait and 

 as human food (lUCN 1968, Pritchard 1979a, 

 Rebel 1974). 



Predation is extensive — particularly on hatch- 

 lings. Pritchard (1971) identified several species 

 of crabs, fishes, reptiles, and mammals that prey 

 on hatchlings. Predation on adults is generally 



