U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Synopsis of the Biological Data on the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Biological Technical Publication BTP-R4015-2012 Guillaume Feuillet U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Synopsis of the Biological Data on the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Biological Technical Publication BTP-R4015-2012 Karen L. Eckert 1 Bryan P. Wallace 2 John G. Frazier 3 Scott A. Eckert 4 Peter C.H. Pritchard 5 1 Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, Ballwin, MO 2 Conservation International, Arlington, VA 3 Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, VA 4 Principia College, Elsah, IL 5 Chelonian Research Institute, Oviedo, FL Author Contact Information: Recommended citation: Eckert, K.L., B.P. Wallace, J.G. Frazier, S.A. Eckert, Karen L. Eckert, Ph.D. and P.C.H. Pritchard. 2012. Synopsis of the biological Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network data on the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys (WIDECAST) coriacea). U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and 1348 Rusticview Drive Wildlife Service, Biological Technical Publication Ballwin, Missouri 63011 BTP-R4015-2012, Washington, D.C. Phone: (314) 954-8571 E-mail: [email protected] For additional copies or information, contact: Sandra L. MacPherson Bryan P. Wallace, Ph.D. National Sea Turtle Coordinator Sea Turtle Flagship Program U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conservation International 7915 Baymeadows Way, Ste 200 2011 Crystal Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32256 Suite 500 Phone: (904) 731-3336 Arlington, Virginia 22202 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (703) 341-2663 E-mail: [email protected] Series Senior Technical Editor: Stephanie L. Jones John (Jack) G. Frazier, Ph.D. Nongame Migratory Bird Coordinator Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 1500 Remount Road P.O. Box 25486 DFC Front Royal, Virginia 22630 Denver, Colorado 80225 Phone: (540) 635-6564 Phone: (303) 236-4409 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Scott A. Eckert, Ph.D. Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) Department of Biology and Natural Resources Principia College Elsah, Illinois 62028 Phone: (314) 566-6301 E-mail: [email protected] Peter C.H. Pritchard, Ph.D. Chelonian Research Institute 401 South Central Avenue Oviedo, Florida 32765 Phone: (407) 365-6347 E-mail: [email protected] Editor: Sandra L. MacPherson National Sea Turtle Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 7915 Baymeadows Way, Ste 200 Jacksonville, Florida 32256 Phone: (904) 731-3336 E-mail: [email protected] ISSN 2160-9498 Electronic ISSN 2160-9497 Biological Technical Publications online: http://library.fws.gov/BiologicalTechnicalPublications.html iv Synopsis of the Biological Data on the Leatherback Sea Turtle Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................ ix List of Tables .................................................................................................................. x Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................ xii Executive Summary ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Chapter 1: Identity ........................................................................................................... 2 Nomenclature ................................................................................................................... 2 Valid Name ................................................................................................................... 2 Synonymy .................................................................................................................... 2 Type Locality ................................................................................................................ 3 Taxonomy ........................................................................................................................ 3 Affinities ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 Diagnosis ................................................................................................................. 4 Taxonomic Status ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 Subspecies ................................................................................................................... 5 Standard Common Names ................................................................................................ 5 Definition of Size Categories .............................................................................................. 5 Morphology ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Description................................................................................................................... 6 External Morphology and Coloration ..................................................................................12 Coloration ...............................................................................................................13 Eggs ......................................................................................................................13 Internal Morphology ......................................................................................................13 Alimentary System ....................................................................................................14 Respiratory System ...................................................................................................15 Circulatory System ....................................................................................................15 Urogenital System .....................................................................................................15 Muscular System ......................................................................................................16 Cranial Morphology .......................................................................................................16 Skull ......................................................................................................................16 Post-Cranial Skeleton .................................................................................................17 Cytomorphology ...........................................................................................................18 Biochemistry ...............................................................................................................19 Karyotype ...............................................................................................................19 Table of Contents v Chapter 2: Distribution ....................................................................................................21 Total Area .......................................................................................................................21 Differential Distribution ......................................................................................................24 Hatchlings ..................................................................................................................24 Juveniles and Subadults ..................................................................................................24 Adults ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24 Determinants of Distributional Changes ...................................................................................25 Hybridization �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 Chapter 3: Bionomics and Life History ...............................................................................26 Reproduction ...................................................................................................................26 Sexual Dimorphism .......................................................................................................26 Age at Maturity ............................................................................................................26 Courtship and Mating .....................................................................................................27 Nesting Behavior ..........................................................................................................28 Emergence from the sea onto the nesting beach ..................................................................28 Overland traverse to and selection of a suitable nest site .......................................................29 Excavation of a body pit ..............................................................................................30 Excavation of the nest chamber .....................................................................................30 Oviposition ..............................................................................................................30 Filling the nest .........................................................................................................30 Covering and concealing the nest site ..............................................................................30