Flatback

Natator depressus

Data Deficient

There is not enough information to assess its risk of extinction. See full glossary

The flatback is the only sea turtle that makes no oceanic migrations: it lives and nests exclusively on the Australian continental shelf, without crossing deep water. Its shell is notably flattened with thin edges. Its hatchlings are the largest of any sea turtle and skip the pelagic phase altogether.

Weight

70 kg – 100 kg

Size

76 cm – 99 cm

Lifespan

50 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

OceanCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Reptile Ocean

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Fun facts

It is the only sea turtle in the world that does not cross the ocean: it hatches, grows and nests within the Australian continental shelf, without the oceanic phase the others spend adrift for years.
Its hatchlings are far larger than those of any other sea turtle, and can therefore swim and dive from the first day rather than drifting among the weed of the open sea.
It nests exclusively on Australian beaches, which makes it the only sea turtle whose conservation depends entirely on a single country.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton with a shell (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Shallow waters of the continental shelf off northern Australia; it nests on Australian beaches
Birth weight: About 6 cm of carapace on hatching
Size at birth: About 6 cm of carapace: it is the largest hatchling of any sea turtle
Sexual maturity: 15 years
Gestation / incubation: 55 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 50 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natator_depressus

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: From November to January on the beaches of northern Australia, during the nesting season; it is the only sea turtle that never leaves the Australian shelf.

Indonesia Australia Papua New Guinea

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