The Green Sea Turtle

Taxonomy The Green Sea Turtle in the sea
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae
Genus: Chelonia
Species: Chelonia Mydas
Status: Endangered
   

One very interesting fact about Green Sea Turtles is that they have been around for so long that their ancestors were present when dinosaurs evolved and became extinct. This means that they have been in existence for about 150 million years. There was a time when millions of Green Sea Turtles could be found around the world. At present, there are less than 200,000 mature females in existence.

The Green Sea Turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world. It ranges in length from 2 to 6 feet with males averaging a little larger than females. Adult females weigh on average 200 kg and males weigh just a little more. Their carapace can be olive green, brown, or black, depending on geographic location. Their plastron is yellow.

They are called Green Sea Turtles because of the color of their flesh. Their limbs, which are flattened and flipper-like, are used for swimming. Green Sea Turtle hatchlings weigh less than 30 grams and are 5 to 10 centimeters in length. They are black on top and white on the bottom.

The Green Sea Turtle swimming near the bottom
Green Sea Turtles can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Basically, Green Sea Turtles can be found throughout the world’s oceans save for areas in which the temperature falls below 20 degrees Celsius. Green Sea Turtles are quite sensitive to both heat and cold and prefer the warmer parts of the seas. In the Atlantic, some Green Sea Turtles have been spotted as far north as Canada. The Caribbean is the most popular choice for nesting sites for Green Sea Turtles. Many nesting sites have also been identified in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Aves Island and Puerto Rico.

In the Pacific, some Green Sea Turtles have been spotted as far north as Alaska and as far south as Chile. Popular nesting grounds in the Pacific include areas in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Australia, the South Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands and even Madagascar.