Featuring a new animal each month!
Now Showing: Leatherback Turtles
Can you name an animal that can weigh up to 700 kilos (1500 pounds), has flippers longer than its own body, and has no shell? The leatherback sea turtle is all these things, and is also the fastest swimming reptile!
The leatherback sea turtle lives in the open seas, and swims almost all over the world. A leatherback can live as far north as Norway, and as far south as New Zealand. Because of their large flippers, they are great swimmers and they like to swim very deep in the ocean. Their favorite food is jellyfish. Yum.
Leatherbacks can live about 45 years, if they reach adulthood. These turtles lay their eggs on land. Lots of the eggs never hatch. They are popular a popular meal for birds and small mammals, and even humans. Lots of baby leatherbacks that are born don’t live to adult age. They are popular meals for bigger fish. Adult leatherbacks sometimes die by eating plastic found floating in the ocean. They think it is jellyfish. These are some of the reasons that leatherback sea turtles are critically endangered.
Got a question about leatherback sea turtles? Did you draw a cool picture of a sea turtle? Send them to us and we’ll post great questions and answers, as well as your artwork at the end of the month!
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