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What the sources say

Leatherback Sea TurtleDermochelys coriacea

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Leatherback Sea Turtle profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 57 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

NOAA Fisheries

Leatherback Turtle. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysThe Biggest Turtle Alive
The source saysThe leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world.Note: section heading
The page saysNOAA Fisheries puts an adult at 750 to 1,000 pounds (about 340 to 450 kilograms) and 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) long
The source saysWeight Adult: 750 to 1,000 pounds Length Adult: 5 to 6 feetNote: 340-454 kg and 1.52-1.83 m are conversions of 750-1,000 lb and 5-6 ft
The page saysNOAA calls the lifespan unknown but estimates 50 years or more
The source saysLifespan Unknown, but estimated to be 50 years or more
The page saysIt is also the only sea turtle without scales or a hard shell
The source saysThey are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell.
The page saysIts back is built from small, interlocking bony plates called osteoderms, sitting beneath tough, rubbery black skin and running in seven ridges
The source saysThe leatherback has a primarily black, rubbery skin with pinkish-white coloring on its underside. ... Their shell (carapace) consists of small, interlocking dermal bones beneath the skin ... Their carapace has seven ridges along its lengthNote: leatherback-2015 names the plates osteoderms; 'tough' is NOAA's 'tough rubbery skin'
The page saysNOAA reports that leatherbacks can dive to nearly 4,000 feet (about 1,200 meters), deeper than any other turtle, and stay down for up to 85 minutes
The source saysLeatherbacks are strong swimmers and can dive to depths of approximately 4,000 feet—deeper than any other turtle—and can stay down for up to 85 minutes.Note: 'nearly' is NOAA's own word elsewhere on the page ('the deepest recorded dive reaching nearly 4,000 feet'); 1,219 m is the conversion
The page saysLeatherbacks eat soft-bodied open-ocean prey such as jellyfish and salps
The source saysa diet of soft-bodied open ocean prey such as jellyfish and salps
The page saysA leatherback may swallow floating balloons and plastic bags, mistaking them for food
The source saysLeatherback turtles may ingest fishing line, balloons, plastic bags, plastic fragments, floating tar or oil, and other materials discarded by humans which they can mistake for food.
The page saysLeatherbacks make the longest migrations of any sea turtle
The source saysLeatherback sea turtles undertake the longest migrations between breeding and feeding areas of any sea turtle
The page sayssome swimming more than 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) a year between feeding grounds and nesting beaches
The source saysLeatherbacks are highly migratory, some swimming over 10,000 miles a year between nesting and foraging grounds.Note: 16,093 km is the conversion
The page saysnesting beaches that lie mainly in the tropics and subtropics
The source sayswith nesting mainly on tropical or subtropical beaches
The page saysThe leatherback is listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act
The source saysThe leatherback sea turtle is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
The page saysNOAA estimates the global population has fallen 40 percent over the past three generations
The source saysIt is estimated that the global population has declined 40 percent over the past three generations.
The page saysOpen ocean worldwide, from mostly tropical nesting beaches to cold sub-polar waters short of the Arctic and Antarctic
The source saysOnce prevalent in every ocean except the Arctic and Antarctic, the leatherback population is rapidly decliningNote: stats.habitat; 'mostly tropical' is NOAA's 'Nesting beaches are primarily located in tropical latitudes'; sub-polar is the biology-2025 foraging claim
The page saysSoft-bodied gelatinous prey such as jellyfish and salps
The source saysa diet of soft-bodied open ocean prey such as jellyfish and salpsNote: stats.diet
The page saysThe only sea turtle with no hard shell
The source saysThey are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell.Note: tagline
The page saysNOAA Fisheries lists it as endangered
The source saysThe leatherback sea turtle is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
The page saysits Pacific populations are the most at risk of extinction
The source saysThe Pacific leatherback turtle populations are most at-risk for extinction
The page saysWestern Pacific leatherbacks have declined more than 80 percent and Eastern Pacific leatherbacks more than 97 percent in recent decades
The source saysPacific leatherback populations have plummeted in recent decades—Western Pacific leatherbacks have declined more than 80 percent and Eastern Pacific leatherbacks have declined by more than 97 percent
The page saysHunting of the turtles, egg harvest and bycatch in fishing gear are the primary causes of those Pacific declines
The source saysExtensive turtle and egg harvest and bycatch in fishing gear are the primary causes of these declines.
The page saysweightKg: 400
The source saysAdult: 750 to 1,000 poundsNote: task #770: 340 to 454 kg, Heavy class either way
The page sayscan swim more than 10,000 miles a year between nesting beaches and feeding grounds
The source sayssome swimming over 10,000 miles a year between nesting and foraging grounds.Note: vibe.reason, task #770

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback sea turtle). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysTheir range stretches from Newfoundland and Norway to Argentina and South Africa
The source saysThey live in Northern Atlantic waters as far north as Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Labrador. They also inhabit South Atlantic Waters, as far south as Argentina and South Africa. This turtle inhabits waters as far east as Britain and Norway.

Source
03

Wallace, Tiwari & Girondot 2013

Wallace, Tiwari & Girondot (2013). Dermochelys coriacea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T6494A43526147.

The page saysrated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).

Source
04

McClain et al. 2015

McClain et al. (2015). Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. PeerJ.

The page saysis the largest of all sea turtles and the fourth largest living reptile on Earth
The source saysDermochelys coriacea is the largest of all sea turtles and the fourth largest living reptile.
The page sayswas weighed at 916 kilograms in 1988
The source saysThe largest known leatherback by mass is 916 kg. ... mass was measured at the time the turtle was originally stranded in 1988
The page saysthough a 2015 review argues that weight is probably inaccurate
The source saysMore likely, however, the mass estimate for the Harlech turtle is simply inaccurate.Note: 2015 is the paper's publication year, from its citation
The page saysA 2015 review of ocean giants explains how.
The source saysThe large size of this species allows for a low surface area to volume ratio to minimize heat lossNote: 2015 is the paper's publication year; introduces the mechanism claimed next
The page saysSheer bulk gives the turtle a low surface-area-to-volume ratio that slows heat loss and leaves room for a thick layer of blubber under its skin
The source saysThe large size of this species allows for a low surface area to volume ratio to minimize heat loss, as well as room for extensive blubber under a leathery skin
The page saysIts blood vessels also work as heat exchangers that raise its internal temperature further
The source saysThis is also combined with circulatory counter-current heat exchangers that increase internal temperatures further
The page saysResearchers suggested a name for staying warm like this despite a low metabolic rate: gigantothermy
The source saysD. coriacea are able to maintain elevated body temperatures in cold waters despite having a low metabolic rate, for which the term gigantothermy was suggested (Paladino, O'Connor & Spotila, 1990)
The page saysGigantothermy heat retention, and backward-pointing throat spines that help hold prey
The source saysfor which the term gigantothermy was suggested (Paladino, O'Connor & Spotila, 1990)Note: stats.superpower; the spine half is the NOAA 'help retain gelatinous prey' claim
The page saysand big enough to keep its core warm in near-freezing seas
The source saysTheir large size allows them to possess some characteristics of endothermy, enabling the maintenance of high core body temperatures in cold watersNote: tagline; near-freezing is the 0.4 °C claim
The page saysLeatherbacks spend time diving in water as cold as 0.4 degrees Celsius
The source saysspends time in waters as cold as 0.4 °C while diving
The page saysbarely above the point where fresh water freezes
The source saysspends time in waters as cold as 0.4 °C while divingNote: fresh water freezes at 0 °C; a unit fact, not a source claim
The page saysA 2015 review of ocean giants says their large size gives them some of the traits of warm-blooded animals, keeping their core temperature high in cold seas
The source saysTheir large size allows them to possess some characteristics of endothermy, enabling the maintenance of high core body temperatures in cold watersNote: 2015 is the paper's publication year; 'warm-blooded' glosses endothermy
The page saysthey are the only sea turtle commonly found in cold waters
The source saysis the only sea turtle commonly found in cold waters

Source
05

Piboon et al. 2025

Piboon et al. (2025). Biology, Nesting Behavior, Genetic Diversity, and Conservation of Leatherback Sea Turtles: Insights From Thailand and Global Perspectives. Ecology and Evolution.

The page saysa 2025 review gives an average adult shell length of 130 to 190 centimeters
The source saysBody length, curved carapace length (CCL) averages around 130–190 cm for adultsNote: 2025 is the paper's publication year, from its citation
The page saysThe heaviest on record, a dead male stranded on a Welsh beach
The source saysThe largest leatherback turtle recorded was a dead stranded male on Harlech beach in Gwynedd, Wales, with a weight of 916 kg
The page saysa DNA-based method reported in a 2025 review estimates up to 90 years, longer than the 50 to 60 years of other sea turtle species
The source saysBased on gene promoter CpG methylation density, leatherback turtles are estimated to live up to 90 years, longer than other sea turtle species that live about 50–60 yearsNote: 2025 is the review's publication year; the estimate is Mayne et al. 2020, which the review cites
The page saysNo other sea turtle can keep its body warmer than the surrounding water
The source saysLeatherbacks are unique among sea turtles for their ability to maintain a body temperature higher than that of the surrounding water
The page saysthat lets it forage in the cold waters of the North Atlantic, the North Pacific and the Southern Ocean
The source saysThis allows them to forage in colder waters, including those of temperate and subpolar regions in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Oceans
The page saysBackward-pointing throat spikes
The source saysthe many backward‐pointing spines in the throat and esophagus, called keratinous papillae
The page saysThese spines, called keratinous papillae, line the throat and esophagus and help hold jellyfish in place while the turtle pushes swallowed seawater back out
The source saysthe many backward‐pointing spines in the throat and esophagus, called keratinous papillae ... adapted for a diet of soft‐bodied invertebrates such as jellyfish and other cnidarians to help retain the prey during the expulsion of seawater
The page saysa 2025 review says they consume about 73 percent of their own body weight a day
The source saysLeatherback turtles consume about 73% of their weight dailyNote: 2025 is the review's publication year; it cites Paladino and Morreale 2001
The page saysNesting females typically weigh 275 to 560 kilograms
The source sayswith weights between 275 and 560 kg for typical laying egg females
The page saysthe heaviest leatherback on record was a male, found dead on Harlech beach in Wales and weighed at 916 kilograms
The source saysThe largest leatherback turtle recorded was a dead stranded male on Harlech beach in Gwynedd, Wales, with a weight of 916 kg
The page saysThere is little information on males, because they live entirely at sea and never return to nesting beaches
The source saysThere is limited information on males because they are entirely aquatic and do not return to nesting beaches, unlike females.
The page saysIn green turtles the males are often smaller than the females, so a 2025 review suggests female leatherbacks could grow even bigger
The source saysHowever, in other species, like green turtles, males are often smaller than females (Godley et al. 2002). The largest leatherback turtle recorded was a dead stranded male ... Thus, there is the possibility of females being even larger.Note: 2025 is the review's publication year

Source
06

Chen, Yang & Meyers 2015

Chen, Yang & Meyers (2015). Leatherback sea turtle shell: A tough and flexible biological design. Acta Biomaterialia.

The page saysseven ridges that help water flow smoothly past
The source saysThe leatherback turtle has ridges along the carapace to enhance the hydrodynamic flow
The page saysDiving Past a Kilometer Down
The source saysThis design allows the body to contract better than a hard-shelled sea turtle as it dives to depths of over 1,000 m.Note: section heading
The page saysA 2015 materials-science study found that the flexible seams between the osteoderms let the leatherback's body squeeze smaller than a hard-shelled sea turtle's as it dives past 1,000 meters
The source saysThe soft dermis and suture geometry enable a significant amount of flexing of the junction between adjacent osteoderms. This design allows the body to contract better than a hard-shelled sea turtle as it dives to depths of over 1,000 m.Note: 2015 is the paper's publication year, from its citation
The page saysIt does have armor, just not the kind you can knock on.
The source saysexplain its amazing structure and capacity for flexing, while retaining its protection capabilityNote: faq 2 opener; protection is the shell's retained function
The page saysEvery other turtle's bony shell is covered in hard keratin, but the leatherback's is covered in skin
The source saysThis is enabled by the flexibility between the bony plates comprising its shell, which is covered by a skin and not by hard keratin as all other turtles.
The page saysits bony plates are linked by collagen fibers, so a 2015 materials-science study found the shell can flex while still protecting the turtle
The source saysThe osteoderm is composed of bony plates that are interconnected with collagen fibers in a structure called suture. ... explain its amazing structure and capacity for flexing, while retaining its protection capabilityNote: 2015 is the paper's publication year
The page saystags: deep-sea
The source saysdives to depths of over 1,000 m.Note: task #770: kept; bathypelagic zone begins at 1,000 m

Source
07

Schuyler et al. 2013

Schuyler et al. (2013). Global Analysis of Anthropogenic Debris Ingestion by Sea Turtles. Conservation Biology.

The page saysa 2013 global analysis found ocean-going leatherbacks and green turtles face the greatest risk of harm or death from swallowed debris
The source saysOur results indicate oceanic leatherback turtles and green turtles are at the greatest risk of both lethal and sublethal effects from ingested marine debris.Note: 2013 is the paper's publication year, from its citation

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.