Body Temperature of Dermochelys coriacea: Warm Turtle from Cold Water

The deep body temperature of a leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, taken out of cold water, was 18 degrees C above the water temperature. A large size favoring heat retention from muscular activity is probably responsible for this differential. Cooling rates (k) in water, measured on a second animal, were in the order of 0.001 degrees C per minute per degree of difference between body and ambient temperature.