| Diagnosis |
In adults, the carapace in dorsal view is heart-shaped; its width about 76 to 86 percent of its length. Head large; broad and subtriangular; 23 to 28 percent of carapace length; with 2 pairs of prefrontal scales; and commonly one inter-prefrontal; horny beak very strong; comparatively thicker than in other sea turtles. Carapacial scutes: thin; but hard and very rough; commonly covered with barnacles. 5 pairs of laterals; the anterior touching the precentral scute; 5 centrals (neurals); and commonly 12 or 13 pairs of marginals; including the postcentral or pygal scute. Underneath the bridge of the plastron; 3 pairs of inframarginal scutes which rarely have pores. Fore flippers relatively short and thick; each with 2 visible claws on anterior margin; rear flippers with 2 or 3 claws. Hatchlings and juvenile turtles have blunt spines on the carapace scutes; forming 3 longitudinal keels that disappear during the juvenile stage. Color: Adults have constant dorsal pattern; easily recognizable by the reddish brown coloration; sometimes with dark streaks (South African turtles); that become orange-creamy on the flanks and yellow-creamy underneath. Hatchlings are dark brown dorsally with the flippers pale brown marginally and underneath; and the plastron usually is much paler. |