The Australian flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) is a species of sea turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is endemic to the sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters of the Australian continental shelf. This turtle gets its common name from the fact that its shell has a flattened, lower dome than the other sea turtles. It can be olive green to grey with a cream underside. It averages from in carapace length and can weigh from . The hatchlings are larger than other sea turtle hatchlings when they hatch and emerge from their nests. Very large specimens are reported to weigh up to . The females of this species are larger than the males in adulthood and also have been found to have shorter tails than their male counterparts. Another unique feature of this species of sea turtle is the fact that its carapace is found to be much thinner than other sea turtle carapaces, causing its shell to crack under small pressures.

Distribution and habitat

The flatback sea turtle has the smallest range of the seven sea turtles. It is found in the continental shelf and coastal waters of tropic regions. It does not travel long distances in the open ocean for migrations like other sea turtles. It can typically be found in waters of or less in depth. It does not have a global distribution like the other sea turtles. The flatback sea turtle can be found along the coastal waters of Northern Australia, the Tropic of Capricorn, and the coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

The distribution of nesting sites can be found across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, with the greatest concentration found in Queensland, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Mating occurs while the male and female are out at sea; therefore, the males will never return to shore after they hatch. The hatchlings also face predation from crabs, sea birds, and juvenile saltwater crocodiles on their journey to the waters. However, the flatback sea turtle is listed as vulnerable nationally in Australia. However, the increased temperatures did not reduce the hatchling body size or their success, but it did accelerate the development of the embryo.

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Further reading

  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. .
  • Garman S (1880). "On certain Species of Chelonioidæ". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College, in Cambridge 6: 123–126. (Chelonia depressa, new species, pp.&nbsp;124–125).
  • McCulloch AR (1908). "A New Genus and Species of Turtle, from North Australia". Records of the Australian Museum 7: 126-128 + Plates XXVI-XXVII. (Natator, new genus, pp.&nbsp;126–127; N. tessellatus, new species, pp.&nbsp;127–128).
  • Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. .
  • Zangerl R, Hendrickson LP, Hendrickson JR (1988). "A redescription of the Australian Flatback Sea Turtle Natator depressus ". Bishop Mus. Bull. Zool. 1: 1–69. (Natator depressus, new combination).
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: Flatback turtles
  • Flatback sea turtle @ Sea Turtle, Inc.

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