Body is reddish-brown.

Shell is smooth, rounded with 5 costal scutes (plates on the shell) and thick at the rear.

Scute behind the head is rectangular in shape.

Head and jaws are very large compared to other sea turtles.

Maximum length of 1.2 metres.

Solitary.

Surfaces to breathe fora few minutes at a time.

Holds head high above water, then slowly sinks back down.

Slow moving.

Normally found in temperate and subtropical waters around the world. Never sighted off of British Columbia, but individuals have been found off of Alaska and Washington State.