Further Observations on Breeding of Dermochelys coriacea in Australia

Abstract

In Australia, breeding of the cosmopolitan leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, is concentrated on 22.3 km of beach near Wreck Rock (24°19'S., 151°58'E.) in south-east Queensland. Up to three females nest there in most years. The mean size of 14 clutches was 82.79; the mean hatching success was 15.3% for clutches on the beach and 51.8% for these moved to dunes near the laboratory. The high level of failure is attributed to early embryonic death, probably caused by the fine sand, when damp, restricting gas exchange round the eggs.