1000 20. DERMOCHELIDA 
Genus 58. Dermochelys 
Dermochelys BuatnviL_E, Bull, Soc. Philom. Paris, 1816, p. 111 (119), 
(type, coriacea). 
Sphargis MERREM, Syst. Amphib,, 1820, p. 19 (type, coriacea). 
The carapace has seven and the plastron five longitudinal 
keels. The body is covered with thick, smooth leathery skin. 
The upper jaw is deeply notched anteriorly. The limbs are 
paddle-shaped, without claws; the anterior limbs are very 
long. 
232. Dermochelys schlegelii (Garman) 
Paciric LEATHER-BACK TURTLE 
Plate 128 
Sphargis coriacea var. schlegelii GARMAN, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 25, 
1884, p. 303 (type locality, Tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean). 
Dermatochelys BEtp1nc, West. Amer. Scientist, Vol. III, No. 24, 18875 
Pp. 99. 
Dermochelys Van DENBURGH, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Ser. 3, Zool., Vol. 4, 
No. 3, 1905, p. 51, pls. IX, X. 
Dermochelys schlegelit STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 58, 1907, 
p- 485; GrinneLi & Camp, Univ. Cal. Publ. Zool., Vol. 17, No. 10, 
1917, p. 198; SrEJNEGER & Barsour, Check List N. Amer. Amph. 
Rept., 1917, p. 124; STEPHENS, Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., 
Vol. III, No. 4, 1921, p. 65; Netson, Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., Vol. 
XVI, 1921, p. 114. 
Description.—Body and limbs covered with leathery skin 
without horny plates. Anterior limbs very long, without 
claws. Head very large, not retractile. Carapace with seven 
and plastron with five longitudinal ridges or keels. 
The color is bluish black more or less spotted or 
marbled with white. 
Specimens are said to attain a length of nine feet, but 
six to seven feet is a more usual size. 
