Is that really a turtle's mouth?

  • Mouth of the Leatherback Turtle - Dermochelys coriacea
Mouth of the Leatherback Turtle
Tom Doyle

Steven Spielberg could not have come up with anything more terrifying! The mouth of the Leatherback Turtle contains hundreds of spiked papillae, (which look like sharp teeth!) which entirely cover the interior of the mouth and continue down the oesophagus to the gut. They point backwards to facilitate the digestion of jellyfish and bear a remarkable resemblance to stalactites. Next time you think of 'Jaws', think turtles, not sharks!