What is the largest living species of sea turtle, found in Australian waters?

The leatherback sea turtle is the largest living sea turtle and occurs in Australian waters.

Unlike other living sea turtles, the leatherback does not have a hard bony shell covered by rigid scutes. Instead, its back is covered by a flexible, leathery skin and supported by a mosaic of small bones. Seven prominent ridges run along the carapace, helping give the species its distinctive shape.

Leatherbacks are powerful long-distance swimmers and can dive to great depths. Their diet consists mainly of soft-bodied animals such as jellyfish, so they can be affected by marine plastic, which may be mistaken for prey. Females come ashore to lay eggs on sandy beaches.

Australia supports nesting and foraging populations, especially along its northern and eastern coasts. The leatherback is larger than the green, loggerhead, hawksbill, flatback, and olive ridley turtles, although all have important marine roles.