313 



Distribution. Atlantic, Indian & Pacific Oceans, sometimes 

 found in the Mediterranean. 



A single species, the Leathery Turtle. 



I. Dermochelys coriacea (L.). 



Testudo coriacea, Linne, Syst. Nat. I 1766, p, 350. 



Dermochelys coriacea^ Boulenger, Cat. Chelon. 1889, p. 80 (s. syn.). 



Dermochelys coriacea^ Siebenrock, Zool. Jahrb. Suppl. X 1909, p. 553 (s. syn.). 



Dorsal shield consisting of a mosaic of numerous polygonal 

 bony plates of unequal size, the largest forming seven keels; 

 a pointed supracaudal portion covers the tail. In young speci- 



Fig. 120. Dermochelys coriacea (L.). Ventral view of same specimen. 



mens the shield is soft and leathery. Ventral shield continuous 

 with the dorsal, with five ridges of enlarged tubercles; it 

 remains soft, the keels and a few bony tubercles excepted. Head 

 covered with small shields. Fore limbs in the young as long 



