1000 20. DERMOCHELWJE 



Genus 58. Dermochelys 



Dermochelys BLAINVILLE, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, 1816, p. 1 1 1 (119), 



(type, cortacea). 

 Sfkargis MERREM, Syst. Amphib., 1820, p. 19 (type, cortacea). 



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 (Carman) 



PACIFIC LEATHER-BACK TURTLE 



Plate 128 



Sphargis cortacea var. schlegelii CARMAN, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 25, 

 1884, p. 303 (type locality, Tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean). 



Dermatochelys BELDING, West. Amer. Scientist, Vol. Ill, No. 24, i88yj 

 p. 99. 



Dermochelys VAN DENBURGH, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Ser. 3, Zool., Vol. 4, 

 No. 3, 1905, p. 51, pis. IX, X. 



Dermochelys schlegelii STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 58, 1907, 

 p. 485; GRINNELL & CAMP, Univ. Cal. Publ. Zool., Vol. 17, No. 10, 

 1917, p. 198; STEJNEGER & BARBOUR, Check List N. Amer. Amph. 

 Kept., 1917, p. 124; STEPHENS, Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., 

 Vol. Ill, No. 4, 1921, p. 65; NELSON, 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. 



