The Australian Flatback

Australian Flatback

Natator depressus

SCIENTIFIC DESIGNATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Cheloniidae
Genus: Natator
Species: depressus

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
The flatback has a flat body with a smooth carapace, hence the name flatback. The body is nearly elliptical in shape.
The carapce is easily damaged. It's soft, waxy, and smooth, with a thin layer of keratin. The color of this magnificent turtle is olive gray, with maybe a pale brownish-yellowish edge.

SIZE AND NESTING:
Flatback adults can reach up to .97 m (97.5 cm, or 39 in.) and weigh 90 kg (198 lbs.). They nest anywhere from 1-4 times per season (but I don't know when that season is) and usually lay 50 eggs at a time. But these are no robin's eggs--they're typically pretty large. The flatback nests in November and December (that's summer "on top" of the world if not on globes)

An Australian stamp...depicting an Australian flatback.

FEEDING:
The Natator depressus is a carnivore, which forages for food including squid, sea cucumber, hydroids (does anybody know what that is? I don't, maybe the plural of hydra?), soft corals, and mollusks. At least, that is what researchers have found in turtle stomachs.

HABITAT:
The Australian flatback lives in--you guess it--Australia. This species prefers shallow waters near the shore, and hasn't been seen on coral reefs. Oh, yeah, and in Australian waters, the flatback is limited to Western, Northern, and Northeastern Australia.

THREATS:
Since it is quite limited in range, the Natator depressus is vulnerable to over-exploitation, and habitat changes. It's not fished commercially for a profit, but it's sometimes captured and eaten for regular old food, kind of like chocolate, pizza, and coffee (ewww . . .)