Alternative Text Description for Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered) Distribution

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the designated habitat range for the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle along the southeastern United States coastline. The map shows a narrow coastal zone extending from Georgia through Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts, representing areas where this federally protected species is known to occur. This boundary represents the species distribution as recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation and management purposes.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, primarily focusing on Florida and portions of Georgia and South Carolina. Major cities visible include Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, West Palm Beach, Coral Springs, and Freeport. Coastal cities such as Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington, and Greenville appear in the northern portion of the map. The Atlantic Ocean borders the eastern side, while the Gulf of America (western Gulf coast of Florida) borders the western side. Inland cities shown for reference include Columbia, Augusta, Athens, Macon, Warner Robins, Albany, Valdosta, Gainesville, and Lakeland.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Leatherback Sea Turtle habitat forms a continuous narrow corridor strictly following the coastline along both Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The distribution extends northward along the Georgia coast and shows no inland penetration, reflecting the species' marine habitat requirements. The habitat zone maintains consistent width along the entire coastal boundary, indicating the species' dependence on near-shore coastal waters. There is notable coverage around the southern tip of Florida including areas near Cape Coral and Coral Springs, suggesting important habitat in this region. The distribution pattern reveals the species' exclusive association with coastal marine environments rather than inland or terrestrial areas.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Leatherback Sea Turtle Habitat

The map displays the designated habitat boundary for the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle along coastal areas of the southeastern United States.

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered) Range (light pink/rose shaded area with crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat is represented by a light pink or rose-colored shaded area with a diagonal crosshatch pattern overlay, creating a distinctive textured appearance that differentiates it from the base map.

Distribution:

The habitat extends as a narrow coastal strip along Florida's entire Atlantic coastline from the Georgia border southward to the southern tip of Florida, then continues northward along Florida's Gulf of America coast. The range also includes a portion of the Georgia coastline north of Jacksonville.

Notable locations:

Significant habitat areas occur adjacent to Jacksonville, Palm Coast, Cape Coral, and the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area. The habitat encompasses coastal waters near major population centers along both Florida coasts.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution forms a linear corridor of consistent width that precisely follows the coastline contour. There are no inland extensions or gaps in the coastal coverage, creating a continuous band from the northern Georgia coast through the entire Florida peninsula. The habitat boundary terminates at the coastline on both the Atlantic and Gulf of America sides, with no coverage extending into interior waterways or terrestrial areas.

Overlapping Patterns

Not applicable. This map displays a single thematic layer showing species habitat range without overlapping data layers.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the official polygonal boundaries for the Leatherback Sea Turtle species distribution as understood and designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The endangered status of this species indicates federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. The habitat shown represents areas where conservation measures and regulatory protections apply. The map focuses exclusively on the thematic species distribution layer; base map features such as roads, municipal boundaries, and terrestrial landmarks are shown only for geographic reference and orientation. Users should note that this represents the recognized species range rather than real-time sightings or population density information.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents the official polygonal boundaries for species distribution as understood by the federal agency for the State of Florida. The dataset specifically contains boundaries for federally recognized species occurring in Florida waters and coastal areas.

Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the species database where the common name equals "LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE." Only records matching this specific species have been extracted from the broader species boundary dataset (COMNAME = 'LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE').

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional scale covering the southeastern United States coastline, appropriate for understanding the full extent of the species' designated range. This scale allows viewers to see the entire coastal distribution pattern from Georgia through Florida.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data source layer name indicates the data is current as of July 2025 (JUL25).

Limitations:

The habitat boundaries represent recognized species range rather than comprehensive population surveys or real-time occurrence data. Actual presence of individual Leatherback Sea Turtles may vary within the designated range based on seasonal patterns, nesting cycles, and environmental conditions. The map does not indicate population density, critical habitat designations, or nesting beach locations. Areas outside the designated boundary do not necessarily indicate absence of occasional individuals, particularly for a highly migratory marine species.

Map Coverage:

The map extent includes the entire state of Florida and portions of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama. The thematic layer coverage is limited to coastal waters along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America shorelines from approximately the South Carolina-Georgia border southward through the entire Florida peninsula.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.