Green Sea Turtle

The green sea turtle is larger than other species in the family. The shell of an adult male has a length of up to 108 cm, and the shell of a female – up to 141 cm. The weight of large turtles reaches 200 kg, and in rare cases even 400 kg. The rounded-oval low shell is covered with large horny scutes, the edges of which never overlap each other. The front flippers usually have 1 claw each.

The coloration of the green sea turtle, depending on the habitat, varies from olive-green to almost black. The carapace may have yellowish spots and often with white edging. The ventral side is white or yellowish with dark edges on the flippers.

The head of the green turtle is also covered with large symmetrical scutes, and the front part of the snout is rounded. One pair of scutes is present above the nose. The eyes of the green turtle are large, like those of other sea turtles, with a round pupil and a beautiful lens-shaped eyelid slit, directed backward and upward.

Males are easily distinguished from females by their more flattened and elongated shell, and especially by their much longer tail (more than 20 cm). Powerful front limbs – flippers, more like paddles, help them move at speeds up to 10 kilometers per hour.

In normal times, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is active mainly during the day, but additional activity at night has been noted. Recently hatched green turtles during migrations were also more active at night. During rest, adult turtles can stay underwater for several hours. Young turtles sleep on the surface, as they are not yet able to stay underwater for long. For hatchlings during sleep, a posture with front flippers folded behind the back is characteristic. Turtles sleep on the surface or on the bottom in reef and rock ledges.

The documented lifespan of green turtles is 75 years. The green turtle got its name from the color of the fat that accumulates in its body. In nature, the green turtle feeds on algae, seagrasses, mollusks, corals, and other marine organisms.