Natator depressus
Flatback turtle | Natator depressa
Similar Species
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Grey upper shell, low body, creamy-yellow belly, carapace plates covered by thin fleshy skin, four large plates along side of shell, three scales behind eye. Lays fewer but larger eggs than other sea turtles, about 50 in each of 3 nestings every 2-3 years. Endemic to Australia.
Information
Max Size: 1200 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 22.9-27.8°C
Depth: 0-44m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Data Deficient
Occurrence: Widespread (50% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields