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Species

Leatherback turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Dermochelys coriacea is a large migratory sea turtle that specializes on gelatinous prey such as jellyfish and siphonophores.

Ecoregions
Norwegian Current
Ecoregion types
Polar & Subpolar
Trophic levels
Tertiary Consumer

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About this species

Species identity

Dermochelys coriacea, the leatherback turtle, is the largest living sea turtle and one of the most mobile oceanic reptiles. In northern foraging grounds it can feed high in the food web on gelatinous predators such as Apolemia uvaria.

Where it lives

Dermochelys coriacea is globally distributed and regularly migrates from tropical nesting areas into temperate and subpolar foraging grounds. In the North Atlantic it can enter Norwegian Current-connected waters when seasonal blooms of gelatinous prey provide feeding opportunities.

Role in the ecosystem

Leatherback turtle helps connect visible large-animal conservation stories to the less visible gelatinous food webs that develop in productive current systems.

Scientific reference

Citation

https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137209#distributions

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