:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-cmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/Q675GCLJ3PJC3N55Y4MNCW2OOM.png)
KINGSTOWN BEACH, R.I. — A dead leatherback sea turtle washed ashore Wednesday and was found on East Matunuck State Beach.
Witnesses noticed the giant sea turtle around 7:30 a.m., according to WPRI.
It was removed from the beach and taken to Mystic Aquarium for a necropsy, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management told WPRI.
Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtle species, known for its leathery, rather than hard, shell.
#EastMatunuck - I'm told this leatherback sea turtle washed up sometime overnight, found dead around 7:30am @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/PG2M8kzJDe
— Susan Campbell (@SusanCampbellTV) August 16, 2017
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/FXTUNGOH5JDMRLTAWC4BG3TTEY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WJVERMTCKFHFPBF2LNONHSDB4M.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/FOCLIVRFCZFSLCT7KAZGM4WMYM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/RIJGDTLX65BOLKB4UXZYEHF3TU.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/HTUFA5GUA5HULI6BS2B2NSUQFM.png)