Animals in the Habitat of Leatherback Sea Turtles

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest species of turtle on the planet, but little is known about their life in the wild. According to the University of Michigan, leatherbacks live the majority of their lives alone in open oceans and rarely interact with any animal other than those in their food chain. The large size of adult leatherbacks---mature adults can reach lengths of 5 feet and weigh over 1,900 pounds---prevent them from predation from most animals; however, juveniles and eggs have very high mortality rates.

  1. Jellyfish

    • Jellyfish are found in all oceans of the world from the deep sea to surface waters. Many species have long tentacles laced with nematocysts that can sting on contact. The leatherback sea turtle is one of the primary predators of jellyfish and will follow populations around the world and at all depths. Leatherbacks are immune to the nematocysts and have a sharp-edged jaw that allows them to secure a firm hold on slippery jellyfish . Leatherbacks have a series or ridges along their throat to help prevent jellyfish from escaping once swallowed.

    Killer Whales

    • Killer whales are found in oceans around the globe where leatherback sea turtles inhabit. Biologists call killer whales an apex predator in the ocean, meaning they are at the top of the food chain and have no natural predators. The diet of killer whales is diverse. Some individuals feed exclusively on fish while many will readily feed on seals, sea lions and walruses. In open oceans, where food is scarce, killer whales are known to feed on leatherback sea turtles, according to the University of Hawaii. Killer whales are one of the few carnivorous predators with the size and power to kill and consume a mature leatherback, according to the University of Michigan.

    Raccoons

    • In North America, the land animal that has the most affect on the leatherback turtle population is the raccoon, according to the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Every year raccoons destroy and consume thousands of sea turtle eggs buried along the beaches of North America. Raccoons were, historically, not a major predator of sea turtle eggs. However, due to a loss of natural predators raccoon populations have increased dramatically and have forced the animals to seek out novel food sources. The large populations near important leatherback nesting sites lead the raccoons to feed on sea turtle eggs, according to the Sea Turtle Conservancy.