Quick answer
IUCN status: VulnerableLeatherback turtle at a glance
The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is a marine animal in the family Dermochelyidae. Range in Indonesia: Southwest Papua (Tambrauw) and Maluku (Kei Islands and Buru). Diet: mainly jellyfish and salps; a carnivore. IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Dermochelys coriacea |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Penyu belimbing |
| Group | Marine |
| Family | Dermochelyidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Southwest Papua (Tambrauw) and Maluku (Kei Islands and Buru) |
| Diet | Mainly jellyfish and salps |
| Range in Indonesia | Nests mainly at Jamursba Medi and Wermon, Tambrauw |
| Key feature | Dark leathery carapace with seven lengthwise ridges |
| Other names | Penyu belimbing (Indonesian), leatherback sea turtle |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable · IUCN Red List (via GBIF) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 709 |
| Lifespan | Estimated at 45–50 years or more · NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle |
| Migration distance | Some average about 6,000 km (3,700 miles) each way between feeding and nesting areas · NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle |
| Buru Island protected area | Buru Island waters (Maluku) designated a 57,594 ha conservation area for leatherbacks (KKP Decree 69/2025) · Kompas — Pulau Buru Maluku ditetapkan jadi kawasan konservasi baru penyu belimbing (17 November 2025) |
| Diet type | Carnivore (meat-eater) — jellyfish and salp eater · Animal Diversity Web |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Reptile Database |
| Venom or poison | Not venomous, but can cause poisoning if eaten · Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J) |
| Observance days | World Turtle Day (23 May) |
| Active | Cathemeral (active irregularly by day and night) — Dives day and night, and its feeding times vary between sites. · ReptTraits v1-2 (Oskyrko et al. 2024, Scientific Data 11:243), column 'Active time' |
In this guide (12)
What is the leatherback turtle?
The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world's largest turtle and the only sea turtle without scales or a hard shell. Its carapace is thick, rubbery skin over small interlocking bones. It is black or dark brown with white spots and has seven ridges running along its length, which inspired the Indonesian name penyu belimbing, after the star fruit. Mongabay Indonesia reports lengths of up to 2 metres and weights of up to one tonne. Its front flippers are much longer than those of other sea turtles, so it is hard to confuse with the hard-shelled green, hawksbill or olive ridley turtles.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗ · Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (JDIH KKP) — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025 tentang Jenis Ikan yang Dilindungi ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia (2024) — Migrasi Terjauh Penyu Belimbing dari Papua ke Amerika Berjarak 20.558 Kilometer ↗
Where does the leatherback turtle live?
Leatherbacks live in the open ocean and come ashore only to nest on tropical beaches. Indonesia's most important nesting beaches are Jamursba Medi (now called Jeen Yessa) and Wermon (Jeen Syuab) in Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua. Both lie within the Jeen Womom Coastal Park, designated by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in 2017. NOAA Fisheries says this Papuan nesting population makes up 50–75 per cent of the western Pacific population. Leatherbacks are also found around the Kei Islands, and Fena Leisela beach on Buru Island, Maluku, is Indonesia's other main leatherback nesting beach. Outside the nesting season, Papuan leatherbacks cross the Pacific to feed off the west coast of the United States.
Evidence: Frontiers in Marine Science (2025) — Population structure and genetic diversity of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Bird's Head Seascape, Papua-Indonesia ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia (2018) — Pelindung Penyu dari Kepunahan itu Bernama Taman Pesisir Jeen Womom ↗ · NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗
What does the leatherback turtle eat?
Leatherbacks feed mainly on jellyfish and other soft-bodied animals such as salps. Unlike other sea turtles, they lack a crushing beak. Instead they have sharp-edged jaws with tooth-like points, and their mouth and throat are lined with backward-pointing spines that hold slippery prey. Mongabay Indonesia notes that they also take small amounts of seaweed, fish, shrimp and other invertebrates. To find food, leatherbacks can dive to nearly 1,200 metres and stay down for up to 85 minutes. Floating plastic bags and balloons look like jellyfish, and NOAA Fisheries warns that leatherbacks swallow them by mistake.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia (2024) — Migrasi Terjauh Penyu Belimbing dari Papua ke Amerika Berjarak 20.558 Kilometer ↗
How do leatherback turtles nest and migrate?
Female leatherbacks come ashore at night, dig a deep nest and return to the sea. According to NOAA Fisheries, a female nests several times in one season at 8–12-day intervals, and Pacific nests hold about 85–95 eggs the size of tennis balls. The eggs hatch after about two months, and females return to nest every 2–4 years. In Tambrauw, nesting happens all year, peaking from May to September at Jeen Yessa and from December to February at Jeen Syuab. A female from Jamursba Medi, tracked by satellite from 2006 to early 2008, travelled at least 20,558 km in 647 days to feeding grounds off Oregon in the United States before the signal was lost.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗ · Frontiers in Marine Science (2025) — Population structure and genetic diversity of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Bird's Head Seascape, Papua-Indonesia ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia (2024) — Migrasi Terjauh Penyu Belimbing dari Papua ke Amerika Berjarak 20.558 Kilometer ↗
Why is the leatherback turtle endangered?
Leatherbacks are threatened by egg harvesting, hunting of adults, entanglement in fishing gear and damage to nesting beaches. NOAA Fisheries reports that the western Pacific population has fallen by more than 80 per cent. WWF-Indonesia data quoted by Mongabay show a 78.3 per cent decline at Jeen Womom over the 27 years to 2016. Wild pigs, dogs and monitor lizards dig up nests, and overheated sand can kill the eggs. At sea, leatherbacks are often caught in gillnets and longlines. Globally the IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable, and a 2025 study cites a nesting decline of about 5.9 per cent a year in Tambrauw since 1984.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗ · Mongabay Indonesia (2018) — Pelindung Penyu dari Kepunahan itu Bernama Taman Pesisir Jeen Womom ↗ · Frontiers in Marine Science (2025) — Population structure and genetic diversity of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Bird's Head Seascape, Papua-Indonesia ↗
How can we protect leatherback turtles?
The leatherback is fully protected in Indonesia, including its eggs, body parts and derived products, under Decree No. 66 of 2025 of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Do not buy or eat turtle eggs or meat. On nesting beaches, keep your distance, do not touch turtles or hatchlings, and do not shine lights or torches at them. Cut down on single-use plastic and join beach clean-ups. If you find a stranded, injured or entangled turtle, contact the authorities. In Tambrauw, local people patrol the beaches, relocate some nests and shade nests with palm fronds so the sand does not overheat.
Evidence: Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (JDIH KKP) — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025 tentang Jenis Ikan yang Dilindungi ↗ · NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗ · Mongabay (2021) — Time is running out for embattled Pacific leatherback sea turtles ↗
Scientific classification of the Leatherback turtle
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Testudines |
| Family | Dermochelyidae |
| Genus | Dermochelys |
| Species | Dermochelys coriacea |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about the leatherback turtle
What is the scientific name of the leatherback turtle?
The scientific name of the leatherback turtle is Dermochelys coriacea, in the family Dermochelyidae. In Indonesian it is called Penyu belimbing.
What kind of animal is the leatherback turtle?
The leatherback turtle is a marine animal in the family Dermochelyidae. By diet it is a carnivore (meat-eater): a jellyfish and salp eater.
Where does the leatherback turtle live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records the leatherback turtle in: Southwest Papua (Tambrauw) and Maluku (Kei Islands and Buru).
What does the leatherback turtle eat?
Diet of the leatherback turtle: mainly jellyfish and salps. That makes it a carnivore (meat-eater). Source: Animal Diversity Web.
How does the leatherback turtle reproduce?
The leatherback turtle reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Reptile Database.
Is the leatherback turtle poisonous?
Only if eaten. Sea turtles are not venomous, but eating turtle meat has caused fatal mass poisonings (chelonitoxism). Source: Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J).
Do not catch, handle or disturb wild animals. If bitten, stung or exposed to its toxins, go to the nearest health facility straight away.
Is the leatherback turtle nocturnal?
The cited source records the leatherback turtle as cathemeral (active irregularly by day and night). Dives day and night, and its feeding times vary between sites. Source: ReptTraits v1-2 (Oskyrko et al. 2024, Scientific Data 11:243), column 'Active time'.
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What are the main features of the leatherback turtle?
Key features of the leatherback turtle, from this guide’s sources: Key feature: dark leathery carapace with seven lengthwise ridges.
What is the scientific classification of the leatherback turtle?
Scientific classification of the leatherback turtle: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Reptilia, order Testudines, family Dermochelyidae, genus Dermochelys, species Dermochelys coriacea.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is the leatherback turtle endangered?
Yes. On the IUCN Red List, the leatherback turtle is listed as Vulnerable: it is considered to face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the leatherback turtle protected in Indonesia?
Is the leatherback turtle protected in Indonesia?
Yes. The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 709).
It is also fully protected under Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Decree No. 66 of 2025 on protected fish species (first provision, entry 43).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can the leatherback turtle be kept as a pet?
No. Because the leatherback turtle is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Sources & references
- NOAA Fisheries — Leatherback Turtle ↗
- Frontiers in Marine Science (2025) — Population structure and genetic diversity of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Bird's Head Seascape, Papua-Indonesia ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia (2018) — Pelindung Penyu dari Kepunahan itu Bernama Taman Pesisir Jeen Womom ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia (2024) — Migrasi Terjauh Penyu Belimbing dari Papua ke Amerika Berjarak 20.558 Kilometer ↗
- Mongabay (2021) — Time is running out for embattled Pacific leatherback sea turtles ↗
- Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (JDIH KKP) — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025 tentang Jenis Ikan yang Dilindungi ↗
- JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
- Kompas — Pulau Buru Maluku ditetapkan jadi kawasan konservasi baru penyu belimbing (17 November 2025) ↗
- Animal Diversity Web ↗
- Reptile Database ↗
- ReptTraits v1-2 (Oskyrko et al. 2024, Scientific Data 11:243), column 'Active time' ↗
- Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source. How we use sources and data →
National parks where it is recorded
According to the official national park profiles from the KSDAE directorate. The animal may also live elsewhere.
Related causes and news
Help from outside Indonesia
If you live outside Indonesia, you can help sea turtles with rescue and beach protection with World Animal Rescue Network.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network. PanduanHewan itself does not accept donations, and this invitation is not directed at people in Indonesia.
Further reading
Leatherback turtle: facts, threats and conservation ↗ — World Animal Rescue Network.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network.
Cite this page
Credit PanduanHewan when referring to this page. Check the original evidence sources before reusing a claim.
PanduanHewan. Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Last substantive update: 1 October 2026. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/leatherback-turtle/