Leatherback Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea

Diagnostic features:

• Small head - takes up only 17 - 22.3% of carapace length.
• Beak is weak, but sharp edged, lacking crushing surfaces.
• Upper jaw has two pointed cusps in front.
• Lower jaw has a single central hook that fits in between those of the upper jaw.
• Carapace reduced and formed by a mosaic of small polygonal osteodermic pieces supported by a thick matrix of cartilagenous, oily dermal tissue.
• The carapace has 7 dorsal and 5 ventral keels.
• Flippers large and paddle shaped, in adults they often equal or exceed half the SCL
• Claws may be visible in hatchlings but disappear in subadults and adults.
• Colour:
  • Dorsal side essentially black, with scattered white blotches.
  • White blotches arranged along the keels and concentrate laterally.
  • The underside of the turtle is whitish due to the number of white blotches.
  • Many have pinkish blotches on the neck, groin,shoulders and head.