FLAT BACK
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This species name "depressa" is from Latin and means flat. This name refers to the flatness of the upper shell (carapace). Locally this turtle is called "Kikila" and is one of the seven hard-shelled species of sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. This turtle has a yellow-grey or a green-grey colored oval shaped upper shell (carapace). The lower shell (plastron) is typically a pale yellow. There is a yellow band underneath and outlining the marginal scutes. Adults of this turtle may weigh as much as 198 pounds (90 kilograms) and measure 39 inches (100 centimeters) long. There is a single pair of prefrontal scales on the head. The carapace has four pairs of costal scutes. At one time, this turtle was considered a relative of the green sea turtle, but it was returned to it's own genus, Natator, by Limpus et al (1988) and Zangerl and Hendrickson (1988). The head is relatively larger than that of a comparable sized green turtle and is more triangular in shape.