Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 4

DISTRIBUTION

The leatherback has the most extensive geographic range of any reptile.  It is found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, with the northernmost latitude recorded at 70°15’N (Gulliksen, 1990), and the southernmost at approximately 27° S (Boulon et al., 1988).  In the Pacific, major nesting beaches are located in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Irian Jaya.  The largest Atlantic nesting colonies are located in French Guiana, Suriname, and Gabon, Africa, however, nesting also occurs in lower densities throughout the Caribbean and in Brazil (Fig. 2).  The northernmost known nesting location on the Atlantic coast is Blackbeard Island, Georgia (Seyle, 1985), however, in the continental United States, Florida is the only state known to support a nesting population of this species (Calleson et al., 1998).

Figure 2.  Global distribution of leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting beaches.

Although leatherbacks do not nest in Canada, these turtles are found here annually, entering Canadian waters off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts between June and November (Fig. 3). Only a small number of West coast records exist (e.g., Kermode, 1931; MacAskie & Forester, 1962; Carl, 1968).  Leatherbacks encountered in the north Atlantic were formerly considered extralimital (e.g., Cook, 1981), however, recent research (James, 2000) suggests that leatherbacks regularly enter temperate waters off eastern Canada.  Leatherbacks have been recorded off the coasts of Nova Scotia (e.g., Bleakney, 1965; James, 2000), Newfoundland (e.g., Goff & Lien, 1988) and Labrador (Threlfall, 1978).  Reports from New Brunswick come from turtles sighted in the Bay of Fundy, the Northumberland Strait, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  In Prince Edward Island, a small number of records come from coastal strandings and reports made by fishermen.  Leatherbacks also have been reported in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence off Quebec (e.g., D’Amours, 1983; Bossé, 1994).  Cultural artifacts from Baffin Island suggest that leatherbacks are occasionally encountered in that region of the north Atlantic (Shoop, 1980).

Figure 3.  Distribution of the leatherback turtle in Canadian waters.

Figure 3.  Distribution of the leatherback turtle in Canadian waters.

Map courtesy of M. Elliott, Environment Canada, 1999.

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