Is This The Most Amazing Animal On Earth? The Magnificent Leatherback Sea Turtle
The magnificent leatherback turtle could be the most amazing animal on earth. Like the other remaining species of marine turtle, it left its terrestrial forebears more than one hundred ten million years ago, developed flippers, and populated the Seven Seas---before there were Seven Seas.
Way back then, the world was a very different place. The Tibetan and Indian Himalayas would not be created for another 65 million years. Antarctica and Australia were still almost connected when the earliest leatherbacks moved into the sea. Tens of millions of generations of turtles lived and died before those two continents assumed the positions they occupy today. Antarctica was near Africa and its weather was still temperate. The southern Atlantic Ocean was still forming as over countless eons South America moved away from what is today west Antarctica.
They lived during the Age of Dinosaurs. Actually, they were on earth millions of years before the first dinosaur evolved. They were swimming the oceans 400,000 centuries before the mighty T Rex made its debut. Yes, that is right, 400,000 centuries. This incredible species of animal outlived the dinosaurs and even survived the greatest mass extinction the world has ever suffered.
The other animal that used to be terrestrial but now is found in the oceans. It is the whale. But, whales and their cousins, the porpoises are Johnny-come-lately. Sea turtles had made the transition from land to sea for fifty million years before these mighty mammals left land for the oceans.
Of the six sea turtle species remaining, these are by far the grandest. They sometimes weigh nearly two thousand pounds. A few years ago one caught off the British Isles near Wales tipped the scales at 1,980 pounds. And, despite its impressive size, this ocean traveling reptile lived through the terrible and extraordinary catastrophic extinction that killed nearly every animal on earth. One of the most resilient and oldest animals on the face of the globe, it is clearly qualified for the "most amazing animal" award but there is more to this animal---much more.
Consider this: we all marveled, and properly so, at Michael Phelps's 200 meter freestyle world swimming record. But, as fast as he covered that length, a huge leatherback, weighing about as much as the entire offensive line of a professional football team, would pass a thousand meters. In fact, this magnificent relic is listed in the 1992 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest reptile on earth!
This marine speed demon is also a marathoner of epic proportions and may migrate farther than any other creature alive today. One of these turtles was tracked by scientists migrating 13,000 miles.
Are you still unconvinced that, despite the accomplishments described above, it is the most amazing animal? The best part is still to come. This extraordinary creature routinely does something the entire human race, over the course of all of history, has been unable to do, even using the most modern technology. It can dive from the surface of the ocean down 4,000 feet where pressure approaches two thousand pounds per square inch. How much pressure is that? Well, suppose that you are the captain of today's strongest, best built, most modern, sophisticated, nuclear attack submarine and you dove right alongside the leatherback. At a depth of about twenty five hundred feet, you would have to stop because even with the most modern and strongest composite and metal structures known to Man you'd be crushed like a tin can if you went deeper. And the turtle? It would be munching on jellyfish 1,600 feet below.
You probably already know that leatherbacks swim all the tropical and subtropical waters on earth. But, north to the Arctic Circle? And south of New Zealand where waters are 40 degrees fahrenheit? These astounding animals, even though they are like all reptiles, cold blooded, have a metabolic rate four times faster than other sea turtles and a unique internal heat-producing device that keeps their body temperature as much as 32 degrees higher than the surrounding water. The water outside its shell may be a frigid 40 but inside this incredible animal is enjoying a comfortable 72 degrees. If you are a scuba diver, imagine it as the oldest wet suit on earth.
Unfortunately, in the last 30 years, man's destructive capacity and willingness to do so have decimated the numbers of this magnificent creature. Between 1980 and 2005, the number of leatherback sea turtles in Mexico declined 99%, a catastrophic decline since that country had about two thirds of the world's total leatherbacks. Mexico should not be singled out because, all across the globe, were collapsing.
Today, more than 100 countries, hundreds of conservation organizations, and tens of thousands of volunteers have marshaled forces to stem the decline of this magnificent creature but it remains very vulnerable. Despite laws passed to conserve these creatures their nests are routinely plundered for eggs. Untold numbers die from ingesting plastic bags which look like jellyfish, their primary food. Habitat destruction, drowning in fishing nets, and perhaps global warming all take their tolls. This extraordinary animal has survived a hundred million generations but might not survive my generation and yours.
Costa Rica is home to all but one of the world's marine turtle species and has set aside important refuges on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. And, Costa Rica ecotourism is playing an increasingly important role in preserving sea turtles. On its Caribbean coast is Tortuguero, the world's largest green sea turtle preserve. The Pacific coast has Ostional Refuge hosting a beach with one of the world's largest olive ridley sea turtle nestings. Either of these places are great for looking for leatherbacks, too.
Way back then, the world was a very different place. The Tibetan and Indian Himalayas would not be created for another 65 million years. Antarctica and Australia were still almost connected when the earliest leatherbacks moved into the sea. Tens of millions of generations of turtles lived and died before those two continents assumed the positions they occupy today. Antarctica was near Africa and its weather was still temperate. The southern Atlantic Ocean was still forming as over countless eons South America moved away from what is today west Antarctica.
They lived during the Age of Dinosaurs. Actually, they were on earth millions of years before the first dinosaur evolved. They were swimming the oceans 400,000 centuries before the mighty T Rex made its debut. Yes, that is right, 400,000 centuries. This incredible species of animal outlived the dinosaurs and even survived the greatest mass extinction the world has ever suffered.
The other animal that used to be terrestrial but now is found in the oceans. It is the whale. But, whales and their cousins, the porpoises are Johnny-come-lately. Sea turtles had made the transition from land to sea for fifty million years before these mighty mammals left land for the oceans.
Of the six sea turtle species remaining, these are by far the grandest. They sometimes weigh nearly two thousand pounds. A few years ago one caught off the British Isles near Wales tipped the scales at 1,980 pounds. And, despite its impressive size, this ocean traveling reptile lived through the terrible and extraordinary catastrophic extinction that killed nearly every animal on earth. One of the most resilient and oldest animals on the face of the globe, it is clearly qualified for the "most amazing animal" award but there is more to this animal---much more.
Consider this: we all marveled, and properly so, at Michael Phelps's 200 meter freestyle world swimming record. But, as fast as he covered that length, a huge leatherback, weighing about as much as the entire offensive line of a professional football team, would pass a thousand meters. In fact, this magnificent relic is listed in the 1992 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest reptile on earth!
This marine speed demon is also a marathoner of epic proportions and may migrate farther than any other creature alive today. One of these turtles was tracked by scientists migrating 13,000 miles.
Are you still unconvinced that, despite the accomplishments described above, it is the most amazing animal? The best part is still to come. This extraordinary creature routinely does something the entire human race, over the course of all of history, has been unable to do, even using the most modern technology. It can dive from the surface of the ocean down 4,000 feet where pressure approaches two thousand pounds per square inch. How much pressure is that? Well, suppose that you are the captain of today's strongest, best built, most modern, sophisticated, nuclear attack submarine and you dove right alongside the leatherback. At a depth of about twenty five hundred feet, you would have to stop because even with the most modern and strongest composite and metal structures known to Man you'd be crushed like a tin can if you went deeper. And the turtle? It would be munching on jellyfish 1,600 feet below.
You probably already know that leatherbacks swim all the tropical and subtropical waters on earth. But, north to the Arctic Circle? And south of New Zealand where waters are 40 degrees fahrenheit? These astounding animals, even though they are like all reptiles, cold blooded, have a metabolic rate four times faster than other sea turtles and a unique internal heat-producing device that keeps their body temperature as much as 32 degrees higher than the surrounding water. The water outside its shell may be a frigid 40 but inside this incredible animal is enjoying a comfortable 72 degrees. If you are a scuba diver, imagine it as the oldest wet suit on earth.
Unfortunately, in the last 30 years, man's destructive capacity and willingness to do so have decimated the numbers of this magnificent creature. Between 1980 and 2005, the number of leatherback sea turtles in Mexico declined 99%, a catastrophic decline since that country had about two thirds of the world's total leatherbacks. Mexico should not be singled out because, all across the globe, were collapsing.
Today, more than 100 countries, hundreds of conservation organizations, and tens of thousands of volunteers have marshaled forces to stem the decline of this magnificent creature but it remains very vulnerable. Despite laws passed to conserve these creatures their nests are routinely plundered for eggs. Untold numbers die from ingesting plastic bags which look like jellyfish, their primary food. Habitat destruction, drowning in fishing nets, and perhaps global warming all take their tolls. This extraordinary animal has survived a hundred million generations but might not survive my generation and yours.
Costa Rica is home to all but one of the world's marine turtle species and has set aside important refuges on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. And, Costa Rica ecotourism is playing an increasingly important role in preserving sea turtles. On its Caribbean coast is Tortuguero, the world's largest green sea turtle preserve. The Pacific coast has Ostional Refuge hosting a beach with one of the world's largest olive ridley sea turtle nestings. Either of these places are great for looking for leatherbacks, too.
About the Author:
The writer, Victor Krumm writes from tropical Costa Rica. Follow his lovely site Costa Rica Vacations and for info about marine turtles check out Sea Turtles
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