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.
