Flatback turtle - Ecology & Habitat
A sedentary turtle
Flatbacks prefer shallow, soft-bottomed sea bed habitats that are far from reefs. They only very rarely leave the shallow waters of the continental shelf, and nest only in northern Australia, where beaches on small offshore islands are the most important sites. This is in stark contrast to the behaviour of all other marine turtle species, except for Kemp's ridley.
BreedingThe nesting season runs from October to February in Queensland's Northern Territory, but may extend to the entire year in Northwestern Australia. Flatbacks can nest up to 4 times in a season, and the interval between each nesting event may be anywhere between 13 and 18 days. An average of 50 eggs are laid each time, but these are relatively large (similar in size to those of leatherback turtles).
Diet
Little is known about this species diet during early stages of development, but it is believed to be predominantly carnivorous, feeding on squid, sea cucumbers, soft corals, and mollusks.