Assessment of the conservation status of the leatherback turtle in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia

Abstract

While leatherback turtles share many features of their biology with the hard-shelled turtles, Family Cheloniidae, leatherback turtles also are characterized by a number of unique features. The leatherback turtle can be regarded as a warm-blooded reptile. They can maintain a core body temperature well above that of the surrounding waters. To maintain these elevated temperatures they must be able to generate endogenous heat via utilisation of thermogenic brow fat tissue.