Green Sea Turtle
Green Sea Turtle eating Seagrass
| Name: | Green Sea Turtle |
| Scientific Name: | Chelonia mydas |
| Family: | Marine Turtles |
| Taxonomic: | Cheloniidae |
| ID Group: | Rays, Sharks, Dolphins, Turtles |
| Size: | 3 - 4 ft. |
| Depth Range: | In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
This Turtle has a smooth, rounded shell that ranges from brown to dark brown, sometimes with hints of green or mottled patterns. Its name comes from the green color of its body, not its shell. It has a single pair of plates between its eyes.
The Green Sea Turtle primarily feeds on seagrass and occasionally on jellies. When active, it surfaces every few minutes to breathe, but while resting, it can stay underwater for up to six hours. It spends nearly its entire life in the water, with females coming ashore only every few years to lay eggs, always returning to where they were born. Its population has declined sharply due to hunting, habitat loss, and plastic pollution.