Leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea close up showing head eye detail, Florida


Close-up shot of a nesting leatherback sea turtle's head. Leatherbacks have a smooth, leathery carapace, covered with small white spots. Their skin is fleshy and often turns pink while nesting. Each turtle has a unique pink marking on the top of its head, that often helps researchers to distinguish individuals. It is located just above the pineal gland in the brain and may help the turtle to disitinguish differing light levels.


Size: 5120px × 3413px
Photo credit: © Chris Johnson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: adult, baula, beach, caldon, canal, carapace, chalupa, chordata, coauana, coffin-, coriacea, cuero, de, dermochelyidae, dermochelys, endangered, female, filos, galapago, garapacho, horizontal, iucn, juno, laud, leatherback, luth, mark, nesting, night, orinook, quillas, recapture, redlist, reptile, reptilia, research, ridges, rubbery, sea, siete, species, testudines, tibisibisching, tinglado, tinglar, tortuga, trunkback, tukutubuking, tuortue, turtle, wildlife