Leatherbacks are perhaps the most mysterious sea turtle

At the FAU Marine Lab, we raise sea turtles, including leatherbacks, until they are big enough to determine their sex internally. We also have begun taking blood samples to see if we can use our proposed method for this species. We are the only facility that has leatherbacks in captivity as they are extremely delicate, but there is an awesome leatherback team at the lab that is completely devoted to caring for them. This leatherback is 36 days old and is helping us learn more about this mysterious species!

 

Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)