Leatherback Turtles Have the Capability to Eat Fighter Jellyfish

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A photograph circulated and frequently shared on most social media websites supposedly showing mouth of a turtle with insides of a leatherback. Most of the viewers assumed that the photograph was terribly doubtful, but it is true that photograph was real. The throat of leatherback sea turtle has sharp prongs that enable the turtle to eat a jellyfish. It was also said that the leatherback and some other kinds of sea turtles have sharp teeth and prongs. These types of sharp teeth are made of gristle inside the throat of a turtle. It basically enable turtle to grip on to the jellyfish to eat and these sharp prongs ensures strong grip and the muscles inside the throat are being used to expel extra salt water.

The sharp prongs also protect leatherback turtles from stinging by the jellyfish because jellyfish is considered an angry sea animal and don’t go back without a massive fight. So, these prongs protect turtles from being injured. It is important that leatherback turtles have the capability to travel a large distance inside and outside the sea and needs extra amount of energy. The jellyfish has water, protein, vitamins, fat and minerals. The published photograph was initially posted in the month of September 2010 by a website “The Los Roques Scientific Foundation” and the photograph was taken at the Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Venezuela. Other photographs were showing the mouth insides of a leatherback sea turtle.