Did you know that every year each female sea turtle lays about 200 eggs at a time. Well, currently there is not an adequate method of aging sea turtles. The most accepted method, aside from observing the turtle from the time it hatches, is to study growth rings of scales on the caraspace and plastron.
Scientists count the rings and use a mathmatical formula to estimate a turtles age.
Sea turtles also have enemies. Adult Sea turtles have few predators, mostly large sharks. Tiger sharks in particular, are known for eating sea turtles. Killer whales have been known to prey on Leatherback turtles. Fishes, dogs, sea birds, and other predators prey on the eggs and hatchlings.