Flatback Sea Turtle

ID points

• Flat shell with edges clearly turned upwards
• Thin waxy scutes with a grey-green sheen
• The only sea turtle that does not migrate across the open ocean

Basics

Family

Cheloniidae

Length

80–100 cm

Depth

0-60 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Northern Australia and surrounding seas

Habitat

Shallow turbid coastal waters

Diet

Jellyfish, sea cucumbers and soft coral

Easily confused with

Olive Ridley TurtleNearly round olive-green shellGreen Sea TurtleShell scutes do not overlap, the edge is smoothHawksbill TurtleShell scutes overlap in layers like roof tiles

Fun fact

Found only in the waters around Australia, and named for its comparatively flat shell. It is the only sea turtle whose core habitat is Australian.

More in this family

• Loggerhead Sea Turtle