Leatherback

An extremely popular spot frequented by locals in the region, Trunk Bay is named after the Leatherback turtle, which is endemic to the area and colloquially known as trunks by residents.

The large numbers of green and leatherback turtles caught in the nets has triggered a review of their usage so as to reduce impacts, including occasional removal and underwater lights.

I had been working on a feature on Grande Riviere Estate in the north-eastern part of Trinidad, focusing on the newly-opened Mt Plaisir Hotel and the leatherback turtles nesting right on its doorstep.

In 2004, when the tsunami struck the islands, an incident occurred at Galathea Bay, a prominent nesting ground for leatherback sea turtles in the Great Nicobar Islands.

Leatherback sea turtles, the largest of all living turtles, undertake extensive migrations that can span multiple years.

This is the third leatherback carcass found on Vineyard shores this year.

Leatherback sea turtles, which predominantly nest on Florida’s East Coast, are the largest of the seven sea turtle species, growing to more than 6.5 feet in length and weighing up to 2,000 pounds.

There are about 21,000 nests on the beach, including loggerheads, leatherback and green turtles, with the animals laying eggs throughout spring and summer.

A distinguished sea turtle whose global travels deepened scientists’ understanding of leatherback biology has died, say federal fisheries officials.

Blue Water Fishermen's Association requested the change of listing in part to spur new research into the status of the leatherback population, said Ernie Panacek, a past president of the organization.

Leatherback and green sea turtles also nest in significant numbers in Florida.

She said leatherback turtles were known to swallow plastic bags, which they are thought to confuse with jellyfish.

There had been sightings in the past, but this was the first concrete evidence of a leatherback in the Bras d’Or, which is called a lake but is really a labyrinthine inland sea, with three ways in from the Atlantic.

However, because of their high metabolic rate, leatherback sea turtles have a body temperature that is noticeably higher than that of the surrounding water.

However, it is believed that some of these species may have bred in the islands in the past, and there are records of several sightings of leatherback sea turtle on beaches in Fuerteventura, adding credibility to the theory.

Some turtles do not have horny scutes; for example, the leatherback sea turtle and the soft-shelled turtles have shells covered with leathery skin, instead.

Species affected by poaching The leatherback sea turtle is globally threatened due to poaching for eggs, meat and oil.

The shells of leatherback sea turtles are extremely light because they lack scutes and contain many fontanelles.

This list excludes sea turtles, however both the leatherback and the Kemp's ridley would make the top 25 list.