Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea 
(Reptilia: Dermochelidae): Notes on Near-shore 
Feeding Behavior and Association with Cobia 
Gilbert S. Grant 1 
Department of Math and Science 
Coastal Carolina Community College 
Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540 
AND 
Danny Ferrell 
P.O. Box 751 
Sneads Ferry, North Carolina 28460 
ABSTRACT — Leatherback turtles ( Dermochelys coriacea ) were 
regularly seen 250 m off North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, 
during May and early June 1990 and 1991, in close associa- 
tion with and feeding on Stomolophus meleagris jellyfish. Cobia 
(Rachycentron canadum ) occurred in close proximity to the turtles. 
Lee and Palmer (1981) summarized the near-shore occurrence 
of leatherback turtles in the waters of North Carolina. Even though 
leatherbacks are perhaps the most pelagic of all sea turtles (Ernst 
and Barbour 1972, Bustard 1973), Lee and Palmer (1981) encoun- 
tered most turtles in the shallow waters over the continental shelf, 
well away from the beach. Ernst and Gilroy (1979) reported that 
this turtle remains close to shore during migrations and is season- 
ally common along the coast from Virginia to New Jersey. 
Because little is known about leatherback behavior and distri- 
bution, we report observations on feeding behavior, fish associa- 
tions, and two strandings at North Topsail Beach, Onslow County, 
North Carolina. 
METHODS 
Observations were made nearly daily from Salty’s Pier at North 
Topsail Beach, North Carolina, during May and June 1990 and 
1991. D.F. was employed by the pier and fished near the distal 
end of the pier during his off-time. G.S.G. searched for turtles 
from the pier on 12-15 occasions during this time interval. Informal 
1 Present address: Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, P. O. Box 3730, 
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799. 
Brimleyana 19:77-81, December 1993 
77 
