Leatherback turtle

Infographic showing the characteristics of the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), focusing on its adaptations to cold temperatures and deep waters, its diet, and its lifestyle. This turtle is the largest sea turtle, reaching up to 2 meters in length. It is distinguished by its soft and flexible shell, unlike that of other sea turtles. It mainly inhabits open oceans and makes long migrations. Although it is an impressive animal, it is endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and marine pollution.

The idea

The goal was to design a visually appealing and educational infographic that highlights the unique characteristics of this species in order to raise awareness among the general public about its ecology and the importance of its conservation.

The result

The creation began with an initial sketch that served as the basis for refining and defining the final idea. Subsequently, based on detailed information about its anatomy, a leatherback turtle was modeled using Sculpey clay, selected for its ease of molding and its ability to harden when baked. Once the model was complete, it was colored and photographed from different angles until the ideal perspective was found. From there, work began on the digital illustration, incorporating informative texts and secondary graphics that complemented the main piece. In 2023, this same illustration was adjusted and adapted for publication in Ttakzine magazine, accompanying Javier Barrios’ article Mar Basurero (Trash Sea). The infographic presents a harmonious combination of illustrations, graphics, and short texts that explain the particularities of the leatherback turtle in a clear and accessible way. It highlights their adaptations to the cold, their global distribution and, in particular, the effects of plastic pollution on their diet, as these turtles consume jellyfish and often confuse floating plastics with their usual food, which puts their survival at risk. This infographic was created as part of a class project for the Master’s Degree in Scientific Illustration at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) with Professor Fernando Baptista.