Dead sea turtle washes up on Rhode Island beach

Credit: Cameron Spencer

Credit: Cameron Spencer

A dead leatherback sea turtle washed ashore Wednesday and was found on East Matunuck State Beach.

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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.

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