Wildlifeof Thailand
Leatherback Turtle
Dermochelyidae
Photo: NOAA · Public Domain (US Government)
Dermochelys coriacea
Basic stats
Diet
Jellyfish and other soft-bodied marine animals
Habitat
Open ocean and sandy nesting beaches
Range
Oceans worldwide
The leatherback is the largest living turtle and lacks a hard shell; its back is covered by flexible dark skin with seven longitudinal ridges. Powerful front flippers carry it across entire ocean basins, including cold waters. It dives deeply for jellyfish and other soft-bodied prey, while females return to tropical sandy beaches to nest (Wikipedia, general species account). It is Nationally Critically Endangered (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Leatherback Turtle eat?
- Jellyfish and other soft-bodied marine animals
- What habitat does the Leatherback Turtle live in?
- Open ocean and sandy nesting beaches
- Where is the Leatherback Turtle found?
- Oceans worldwide