Description of the Leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea)
![003-dc-nesting-sae-copy](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/003-dc-nesting-SAE-copy-300x194.jpg)
*source: Pritchard & Mortimier (1999)
![taxdc-6-copy](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXDC-6-copy-300x239.jpg)
Shape broadly triangular; width to 25 cm; two prominent maxiallary cusps, covered with unscaled skin in adults.
![taxdc-dc-nesting5-grande-anse-gd-c-c-curry-marvet-may06](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXDC-Dc-nesting5-Grande-Anse-GD-c-C-Curry-MARVET-May06-300x239.jpg)
Elongate with seven prominent longitudinal ridges (keels); scutes always absent; adults with smooth skin, but hatchlings covered with small bead-like scales; straight carapace length to 180 cm (to 165 cm in the eastern Pacific).
![diving-dc-from-top-view1](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/diving-dc-from-top-view1-300x239.jpg)
Black and white in color; relatively small, distensible (with very little bone).