Native Animals
Dermochelys coriacea
Leatherback Sea Turtle
VU
Vulnerable
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2013
Taxonomy
-
Kingdom
-
Phylum
-
Class
-
Order
-
Family
-
Genus
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Specific Epithetcoriacea Vandelli, 1761
-
Common Name
- Coffin-back (English)
- Leatherback (English)
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (English)
- Leatherback Turtle (English)
- Leathery Turtle (Bajau)
- Luth (English)
- Penyu Belimbing (Malay)
- Trunk Turtle (English)
- Trunkback Turtle (English)
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ResidentialNative
The taxonomic status is pending for approval
Description
Leatherback Turtle or Penyu Belimbing in Malay is the World’s largest turtle with individual weighed about 916 kilograms recorded (Eckert & Luginbuhl, 1988). There are seven species of sea turtles in the world and it is one of four sea turtle species that are known to nest in Malaysia (Kemf et al., 2000).
This unique turtle has a skin-covered carapace which has seven ridges while juveniles are covered by white scales. It is also a strong swimmer which crossing oceans against the current and making regular foraging migrations into temperate water following jellyfish aggregations, returning in the autumn when the water cools. The Leatherback Turtle can retain a body temperature several degree warmer than the surrounding water because it has counter-current heat-exchangers in its circulatory system and heat-generating tissues. It also able to make regular deep dives and down to 1,200 m while looking for food (Das, 2010). Its diets consist predominantly on jellyfish, comb-jellies and salps. The female laid its eggs at night on steep sandy beaches along deep open water.
Habits
| No | Part | Habit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Oviparous — Reproduction through production of eggs that have membranes and/or shells.
|
|
| 2 |
Terrestrial — An animal that lives on/near the ground or a plant that grows on/in/from land
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Habitats
| No | Description | Suitability | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Marine Coastal/Supratidal → Coastal Sand Dunes
|
Suitable | Unknown |
| 2 |
Marine Intertidal → Mangrove Submerged Roots
|
Suitable | Unknown |
| 3 |
Marine Oceanic → Epipelagic (0 - 200 m)
|
Suitable | Unknown |
References : http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3
Assessment
| Year Published | Assessment | Red List Category | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
3.1 |
| 2009 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Critically Endangered (CR)
|
N/A |
| 2000 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Critically Endangered (CR)
|
N/A |
| 1996 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
|
N/A |
| 1994 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
|
N/A |
| 1990 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
|
N/A |
| 1988 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
|
N/A |
| 1986 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
|
N/A |
| 1982 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
|
N/A |
Biodiversity Experts
| Profile | |
|---|---|
|
Amirrudin Bin Ahmad (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Amphibians, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Fishes, Reptiles,
Biodiversity, Data Analysis, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Living Modified Organism (LMO), Marine & Coastal, Protected Areas & Invasive Alien Species
|
|
Charles Leh Moi Ung (Dr.)
Sarawak Museum Department (JMS)
|
Fishes, Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin, Crustaceans,
Biodiversity & Science
|
|
Chen Pelf Nyok (Dr.)
Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS)
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Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin (Ecology), Reptiles (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Conservation, Education & Environment
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|
Kaviarasu Munian (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
|
Reptiles (Ecology), Amphibians (Ecology), Fishes (Ecology),
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|
Lim Boo Liat (Dr.)
|
Reptiles (Ecology), Rodents (Ecology), Amphibians (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Invasive Alien Species
|
|
Mohamad Rosni Bin Othman (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Amphibians, Coral Reefs, Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin, Amphibians,
Law and Policy, Management & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Mohammad Shahfiz Azman (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
|
Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles,
Awareness, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Environment, Forest, Landscape, Law and Policy, Management, Protected Areas, Science, Systematics, Invasive Alien Species, Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC), National Policy on Biological Diversity, Policy, Research and Development (R&D) & Zoonotic
|
|
Mohd Abdul Muin Bin Md Akil (Mr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
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Amphibians, Birds, Reptiles, Snakes,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas, Climate Change & Invasive Alien Species
|
|
Mohd Uzair Rusli (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
|
Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin, Reptiles,
Conservation, Data Analysis, Ecology & Marine & Coastal
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Mohd Zulfadli Bin Mohd Arshad (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
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Rodents (Taxonomy), Reptiles,
Molecular, Biodiversity & Science
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Norhayati Binti Ahmad (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
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Frogs and Toads, Snakes, Amphibians, Reptiles,
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Teo Eng Wah (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
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Reptiles, Amphibians,
Invasive Alien Species
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PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;
References
Article
- Chan, E.H. (2006). Marine turtles in Malaysia: On the verge of extinction? . Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 9 (2), 175-184. http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/ocrd/113701.pdf
- Chan, E.H., Liew, H.C. & Mazlan, A.G. (1988). The incidental capture of sea turtles in fishing gear in Terengganu, Malaysia. Biological Conservation 43 (1), 1-7
Book
- Biodiversity in Malaysia, 2006. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Malaysia. pp. 29. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Handbook on the Living Marine Resources of Malaysia Marine Park, 2011. Department of Marine Park Malaysia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Putrajaya, Malaysia. pp. 123.
- Kementerian Sumber Asli, Alam Sekitar dan Perubahan Iklim. (2023). Biodiversiti di Malaysia, 2023. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Malaysian Naturalist, Volume 74, Issue/No. 4, 2021. Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. pp. 311.
- National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016 - 2025 / Dasar Kepelbagaian Biologi Kebangsaan 2016 - 2025, 2016. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), Malaysia. pp. 112. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Pesona Perikanan Malaysia, 2016. Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia.
- Beastall, C.A. & Chng, S.C.L. (2021). Identification of Commonly Traded Wildlife in Southeast Asia. TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Das, I. (2010). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK), England. pp. 369.
- Kolby, J.E (2021). Identification Guide to Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles: Parts, Products and Derivatives in Trade. CITES Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Saleem, M. (2007). Marine BioValley Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Universiti Malaysia Sabah. pp. 1-67.
- Spotila, J.R. (2004). Sea turtles: A complete guide to their biology, behavior, and conservation. JHU Press. pp. 240.
- Vie, J.-C, Hilton-Taylor, C. & Stuart, S.N. (2009). Wildlife in a Changing World - An Analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. pp. 180. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Chapter in book
- Das, I. & Norsham, S.Y. (2007). Status of Knowledge of The Malaysia Herpetofauna. In Chua, L.S.L., Kirton, L.G. & Saw, L.G. (Eds.), Status of Biological Diversity in Malaysia and Threat Assessment of Plant Species in Malaysia: Proceedings of the Seminar and Workshop, 28-30 June 2005. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). pp. 31-81.
- Gambang, A.C., Daud, A., Lim, A.P.K. & Osman, M. (2004). Fish Community of Pulau Layang Layang. In Mohamed, P.A. (Ed.), Marine Biodiversity of Pulau Layang Layang, Malaysia. Marine Research Station Layang Layang (MARSAL), Fisheries Research Institute, Department of Fisheries Malaysia. pp. 43-58.
Online
- Chen, P.N. & Affandi, A. (11/05/2020). Lucy the Leatherback Turtle. Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS). Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://www.turtleconservationsociety.org.my/product/lucy-the-leatherback-turtle/
- Di Dario, F.IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.iucnredlist.org
- Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hosek, J.The Reptile Database. Retrieved April 25, 2017, from http://www.reptile-database.org
Report
- 2014 Annual Report of the Species Survival Commission and the Global Species Programme. International Union for Conservation of Nature. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- 5th National Report to Convention on Biological Diversity. Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- A Rapid Assessment on the Trade in Marine Turtles in Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet Nam. TRAFFIC. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Living Blue Planet Report. Species, habitats and human well-being. WWF, Gland, Switzerland. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Kemf, E., Groombridge, B., Abreu, A. & Wilson, A. (2000). Marine turtles in the Wild. WWF, Switzerland.
Publications
Acknowledgements :- Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Ms. Noor Amira Aini Binti Noor Anwar, Mrs. Nur Hazwanie Binti Abd Halim, Mrs. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurliyana Binti Abd Rahman, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin
Photo credit :- Lim Puay Aun
Species Citation :- Dermochelys coriacea. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/21029. [Retrieved 20 April 2024].
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