Difference between Leatherback Sea Turtle & Green Sea Turtle
Here we will discuss about the difference between the Leatherback Sea Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle. Green sea turtles can be easily differentiated from other sea turtles as they do not have two pairs of prefrontal scales bit they have single pair. Other sea turtles have two pairs of prefrontal scales. Their head is very small. Covering is bony and has huge scales present with just four lateral scutes. Body of green sea turtle is almost oval. If its body is compared to pacific green turtle then the body of green sea turtle is flattened.
Head of leatherback sea turtle has a deeply notched upper jaw with two cusps. It is only sea turtle, which lacks a hard shell. Carapace of this sea turtle is big, flexible and lengthened with seven ridges. The covering is thin and tough and is composed of rubbery skin. It is also strengthened by small bone plates. The covering does not have scales, excluding in hatchings. Now let us have a look at the differences between leatherback and green sea turtle in terms of size, weight, diet, nesting, habitat and range.
Size: The size of biggest leatherback sea turtles is nearly 10 feet from the tip of its mouth to the tip of its end. The size of biggest green turtle is 5 feet. Adults are 3 to 4 feet in covering length.
Diet: Leatherback sea turtles have fragile and scissor-like jaws. Anything can injure their jaws other than a diet of soft-bodied animals hence they feed completely on jellyfish. It is a wonderful thing that such a huge animal is able to survive on a diet of jellyfish composed mainly of water. Green sea turtle eat worms, aquatic insets, algae, grasses and young crustaceans. Once green turtle reaches 8 to 10 inches, it mainly prefers to eat sea grass and algae. Its jaws are greatly jagged that helps it in tearing plants.
Habitat: Leatherback sea turtles are mainly found in the open ocean. They are found near toAlaska andSouthern Africa. In water below almost 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they stay active. They are the only known to remain in such a low temperature. Green sea turtles are found near the coastline. They are also found near the islands. They prefer to live in bays and protect shores particularly in areas with sea grassland beds.
Weight: The weight of leatherback sea turtle is between 660 to 1,100 pounds whereas the weight of green sea turtle is between 240 to 420 pounds.
Nesting: Through recent search, it is come to know that leatherback sea turtles can nest every year. They nest for every season for 4 to 7 times. They lay an average of 80 fertilized eggs, 30 mini and unfertilized eggs in every nest. Leatherback females can change their nesting beaches unlike other species, even if they likely to stay in the similar region. Green sea turtles do not nest every year. They nest at intervals of almost 2 years. They nest for every season between 3 to 5 times. They lay an average of 115 eggs in every nest.
Range: Leatherback sea turtles found worldwide with the biggest south and north range of all the sea turtle species whereas green sea turtles are found in all tropical waters.
Head of leatherback sea turtle has a deeply notched upper jaw with two cusps. It is only sea turtle, which lacks a hard shell. Carapace of this sea turtle is big, flexible and lengthened with seven ridges. The covering is thin and tough and is composed of rubbery skin. It is also strengthened by small bone plates. The covering does not have scales, excluding in hatchings. Now let us have a look at the differences between leatherback and green sea turtle in terms of size, weight, diet, nesting, habitat and range.
Size: The size of biggest leatherback sea turtles is nearly 10 feet from the tip of its mouth to the tip of its end. The size of biggest green turtle is 5 feet. Adults are 3 to 4 feet in covering length.
Diet: Leatherback sea turtles have fragile and scissor-like jaws. Anything can injure their jaws other than a diet of soft-bodied animals hence they feed completely on jellyfish. It is a wonderful thing that such a huge animal is able to survive on a diet of jellyfish composed mainly of water. Green sea turtle eat worms, aquatic insets, algae, grasses and young crustaceans. Once green turtle reaches 8 to 10 inches, it mainly prefers to eat sea grass and algae. Its jaws are greatly jagged that helps it in tearing plants.
Habitat: Leatherback sea turtles are mainly found in the open ocean. They are found near toAlaska andSouthern Africa. In water below almost 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they stay active. They are the only known to remain in such a low temperature. Green sea turtles are found near the coastline. They are also found near the islands. They prefer to live in bays and protect shores particularly in areas with sea grassland beds.
Weight: The weight of leatherback sea turtle is between 660 to 1,100 pounds whereas the weight of green sea turtle is between 240 to 420 pounds.
Nesting: Through recent search, it is come to know that leatherback sea turtles can nest every year. They nest for every season for 4 to 7 times. They lay an average of 80 fertilized eggs, 30 mini and unfertilized eggs in every nest. Leatherback females can change their nesting beaches unlike other species, even if they likely to stay in the similar region. Green sea turtles do not nest every year. They nest at intervals of almost 2 years. They nest for every season between 3 to 5 times. They lay an average of 115 eggs in every nest.
Range: Leatherback sea turtles found worldwide with the biggest south and north range of all the sea turtle species whereas green sea turtles are found in all tropical waters.
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