Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are known to undertake long-distance, transoceanic migrations. In the South Atlantic, however, information on transoceanic movements is very recent. The presence of leatherbacks in Brazilian waters from nesting populations other than the small nesting colony in southeastern Brazil was suggested by Barata et al. (2004) given the high number of stranded leatherbacks along the southern Brazilian coast.