Recently, the world’s largest turtle was spotted by Rafael Mesquita. The photographer, who is already popular among São Paulo residents for his impressive recordings of marine fauna, thrilled everyone by photographing the animal of colossal proportions.
The meeting took place in the waters of Ilha Bela on the coast of São Paulo, on a random Thursday, and according to Rafael: “I’d only seen a live turtle of this species twice before and now I’ve had the privilege of not only seeing it again, but diving with it! “
Check out the recorded video:
Curiosities about the world’s largest turtle!
The large marine animal spotted by the photographer is of the Dermochelys coriacea species, known as the leatherback turtle. They can be over 2.5 meters long and weigh 700 kilos. To top it off, they have the ability to dive more than 1000 meters deep. Impressive!
The turtle’s diet is mainly live water and zooplankton. In other words, despite its size, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Because, despite our size, we’re not a snack option for her.
In addition, the video shows that the animal has a “louse” on its right paw. The rhemora is a fish that attaches itself to other living beings, such as sharks or turtles, in order to feed on ectoparasites or food scraps and travel great distances. But don’t worry, they are harmless and an excellent example of commensalism.
The photographer warns about the risks of the species
By posting the record on his social networks, Rafael Mesquita warns about the vulnerability of the leatherback turtle species to extinction.
According to the photographer, factors such as human actions, ocean pollution and light pollution from beaches contribute to the degradation of the marine environment. Rafael writes in his publication: “That one was lucky to survive until today and I was lucky enough to find her!“
