Leatherback Turtles: The Largest Sea Turtle Alive
Sea turtles are known for being large and charismatic creatures. Their gentle nature makes them endearing, while their endangered status drives our desire to protect them. Of all the speculator types of sea turtle in our ocean, the leatherback turtle often holds a special place in our hearts and minds.
Why?
Simply because of how impressive this animal - the largest sea turtle alive - is to encounter.
The Biggest Sea Turtle In the World
The largest sea turtle on the planet is the leatherback turtle. It can reach lengths of up to 6.5 feet (2m) and weigh nearly 2000 pounds (900kg). The massive bulk of the leatherback turtle means it cannot carry a hardshell. Instead, it gets its name for its soft shell, which has a rubbery texture.
Not, it doesn’t feel like leather!
There are two types of leatherback turtles, Pacific leatherbacks and Atlantic leatherbacks. Pacific leatherbacks are larger, as they usually have access to more food.
The Largest Sea Turtle to Ever Exist: It’s Not the Leatherback Turtle
Leatherback turtles really are big animals. The largest leatherback turtles dwarf humans. But, they are not the biggest sea turtle to have ever lived.
Archelon is a now-extinct sea turtle that lived during the Late Cretaceous period some 70 million years ago. This turtle was 15 feet long (4.5 metres) and weighed over 4,900 pounds (2,200kg).
This animal was more than twice the size of a leatherback turtle. We’re talking about an animal bigger than a rhino and only just smaller than an elephant. Comparative marine animals are hard to find, but this sea turtle was longer than a great white shark.
Can You Swim with Leatherback Turtles?
It’s possible to swim with sea turtles like the leatherback turtle. Click the link or button below to read our full guide.
If you’re looking for a quick answer on coming face-to-face with the world’s biggest turtle though, the best place to visit is Costa Rica between March and July. While you can see leatherbacks in other locations, sightings are much rarer than in Costa Rica, where they travel to nest in high numbers.
