There are very few turtles that visit our coastal waters, but there is one that is considered to be native because it is such a regular visitor. This turtle is called the Leatherback Turtle and is the largest marine turtle in the world. It can often be seen in the south-west coast of England because it can find many jellyfish there which this turtle loves eating.

The Leatherback Turtle is different from many turtles because it can create its own body heat so it can survive in colder waters. It also has a shell that it not really a shell, but a soft black leathery back consisting of flexible plates that can stand water pressure. Other turtles in the world are hard-shelled species and cold-blooded and only belong in warmer waters.

We have only written about the Leatherback Turtle in our sea reptile section because it really is the only regular sea reptile visitor we really have in our colder waters.