The Pacific leatherback sea turtle became the state marine reptile ... use their sharp beak to reach into holes and crevices in coral reefs to find their preferred food source — sponges ...

August through January are prime sea turtle hatching months. The Riviera Maya is the nesting ground for a variety of species including leatherback ... the Great Barrier Reef near Australia.

Sea turtle season doesn't start until May 1, but a female leatherback crawled onto Vanderbilt Beach and laid a nest, the first historic account of this massive species laying eggs on this beach.