Although you may not even have known it exists the leatherback sea turtle may be the most amazing animal on earth. It is one of only six remaining species of marine turtle, and long, long ago its predecessors walked the earth on four legs. About 110,000,000 ago, its legs and feet developed into flippers sometimes reaching nine feet in length and it began to populate the Seven Seas, or, more accurately, the sea, because the Seven Seas did not exist that long ago.
Way back then, the world was a very different place. Mount Everest was not the tallest mountain in the world because it would not be formed for another 65 million years. Antarctica and Australia were still almost connected when the earliest leatherbacks took to the sea. Perhaps 30 million generations of these marine animals 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 millennia South America moved away from what is now Africa.
They lived during the Age of Dinosaurs. Indeed, 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, you read it correctly, 400,000 centuries. This incredible species of animal outlived the dinosaurs and even survived the greatest mass extinction the world has ever suffered.
And porpoises or whales? Sea turtles were swimming the world's oceans for more than fifty million years before those mighty creatures---which are closely related to hippopotamus---evolved, left the land, and first entered the sea, as well.
Leatherbacks are big turtles weighing as much as a ton. This is not an exaggeration because one, captured in Wales tipped the scales at 1,980 pounds. And, despite its size, this giant survived the extraordinary and terrible mass extinction that brought about the destruction of the dinosaurs. For that single reason it might be considered the most amazing animal on the globe. But, there is more.
Consider this: we all marveled, and properly so, at Michael Phelps's 200 meter freestyle world swimming record. But, in the time it took him to go that distance, a huge leatherback, weighing about as much as the entire offensive line of a professional football team, would swim a thousand meters. In fact, this magnificent relic is listed in the 1992 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest reptile on earth!
Leatherbacks may also be the world's greatest long-distance travelers. Scientists tracked one of these giants 13,000 miles---one way.
Amazed? Hold on, there is more. Besides being the world's fastest reptile and maybe the world's greatest long-distance migrator, it routinely does something Man has never accomplished. It can dive nearly 4,000 feet underwater. At that depth pressure approaches two thousand pounds per square inch. How much pressure is that? Well, it has been estimated that today's best nuclear attack submarines would be completely crushed at about 2,400 feet. Even the world's best technology and strongest metal and composite materials cannot come close to the diving ability of a one hundred million year old race of creatures we consider primitive.
You probably already know that leatherbacks swim all the tropical and subtropical waters on earth. But, north to the waters off Alaska, Canada, and Norway? And south of New Zealand where water temperatures are only a few degrees above freezing? 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 grand turtle is enjoying a comfortable 72 degrees. If you are a scuba diver, think of it like the world's first wet suit.
Disastrously, in literally the last three decades, this magnificent animal has been decimated in numbers and is now classified as critically endangered. In 1980, Mexico boasted two of every three leatherbacks on earth. Within 25 years, its leatherback population had collapsed 99%, a catastrophe by any measurement. In far off Malaysia, on beaches that once had 10,000 leatherback nests a year, there were two nestings in 2008. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity, rapaciousness, and destructiveness. The Angels are surely weeping.
Today, more than 100 countries, hundreds of conservation organizations, and tens of thousands of volunteers are determined 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.
If you are considering a Costa Rica vacation, be sure to visit one of its world-famous sea turtle parks or reserves. Tortuguero National Parkis on its Caribbean coast and is the world's largest green sea turtle nesting preserve. Travel Costa Rica west to the Pacific and you'll see the largest nesting invasion of olive ridley sea turtles on earth. Leatherbacks nest at many Costa Rica beaches.
Way back then, the world was a very different place. Mount Everest was not the tallest mountain in the world because it would not be formed for another 65 million years. Antarctica and Australia were still almost connected when the earliest leatherbacks took to the sea. Perhaps 30 million generations of these marine animals 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 millennia South America moved away from what is now Africa.
They lived during the Age of Dinosaurs. Indeed, 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, you read it correctly, 400,000 centuries. This incredible species of animal outlived the dinosaurs and even survived the greatest mass extinction the world has ever suffered.
And porpoises or whales? Sea turtles were swimming the world's oceans for more than fifty million years before those mighty creatures---which are closely related to hippopotamus---evolved, left the land, and first entered the sea, as well.
Leatherbacks are big turtles weighing as much as a ton. This is not an exaggeration because one, captured in Wales tipped the scales at 1,980 pounds. And, despite its size, this giant survived the extraordinary and terrible mass extinction that brought about the destruction of the dinosaurs. For that single reason it might be considered the most amazing animal on the globe. But, there is more.
Consider this: we all marveled, and properly so, at Michael Phelps's 200 meter freestyle world swimming record. But, in the time it took him to go that distance, a huge leatherback, weighing about as much as the entire offensive line of a professional football team, would swim a thousand meters. In fact, this magnificent relic is listed in the 1992 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest reptile on earth!
Leatherbacks may also be the world's greatest long-distance travelers. Scientists tracked one of these giants 13,000 miles---one way.
Amazed? Hold on, there is more. Besides being the world's fastest reptile and maybe the world's greatest long-distance migrator, it routinely does something Man has never accomplished. It can dive nearly 4,000 feet underwater. At that depth pressure approaches two thousand pounds per square inch. How much pressure is that? Well, it has been estimated that today's best nuclear attack submarines would be completely crushed at about 2,400 feet. Even the world's best technology and strongest metal and composite materials cannot come close to the diving ability of a one hundred million year old race of creatures we consider primitive.
You probably already know that leatherbacks swim all the tropical and subtropical waters on earth. But, north to the waters off Alaska, Canada, and Norway? And south of New Zealand where water temperatures are only a few degrees above freezing? 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 grand turtle is enjoying a comfortable 72 degrees. If you are a scuba diver, think of it like the world's first wet suit.
Disastrously, in literally the last three decades, this magnificent animal has been decimated in numbers and is now classified as critically endangered. In 1980, Mexico boasted two of every three leatherbacks on earth. Within 25 years, its leatherback population had collapsed 99%, a catastrophe by any measurement. In far off Malaysia, on beaches that once had 10,000 leatherback nests a year, there were two nestings in 2008. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity, rapaciousness, and destructiveness. The Angels are surely weeping.
Today, more than 100 countries, hundreds of conservation organizations, and tens of thousands of volunteers are determined 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.
If you are considering a Costa Rica vacation, be sure to visit one of its world-famous sea turtle parks or reserves. Tortuguero National Parkis on its Caribbean coast and is the world's largest green sea turtle nesting preserve. Travel Costa Rica west to the Pacific and you'll see the largest nesting invasion of olive ridley sea turtles on earth. Leatherbacks nest at many Costa Rica beaches.
About the Author:
Victor Krumm writes about tropical Costa Rica. Visit his popular site Costa Rica Vacations or check out one of Costa Rica's Seven Wonders Cocos Island
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