About Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- It’s the largest of the seven sea turtle species.
- Olive Ridley turtles, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtles, Loggerhead turtles, and Leatherback turtles are among the other species that nest along the Indian coast.
- Except for the Arctic and Antarctic, it can be found in all oceans.
- Just Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to them in the Indian Ocean.
- In the genus Dermochelys and the family Dermochelyidae, it is the only living animal.
- Its lack of a bony shell easily distinguishes it from other modern sea turtles.
Conservation Status
- They are mentioned in India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in Schedule I.
- Vulnerable – IUCN
- CITES Appendix I species
Habitat
- Leatherback turtles are mainly found in open water.
- Nesting areas are in the tropics, and non-nesting range extends to sub-polar regions.
- Circumglobal, present in all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic and Antarctic; nesting areas are in the tropics, and non-nesting range extends to sub-polar regions. As a result, we may assume it has a global cosmopolitan selection.
Other Important Facts
- The Ministry of the Environment has published the National Marine Turtle Action Plan, which emphasises the importance of the A&N Islands.
- All of India’s important sea turtle nesting habitats have been designated as “Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas,” according to the plan.
- The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) – 1 has been added to these regions.
- The Little Andaman’s South Bay and West Bay, as well as the Great Nicobar’s Galathea, are classified as “Important Marine Turtle Habitats in India.”
Source: The Hindu
