Green Sea Turtle

The green sea turtle, scientifically known as Chelonia mydas, is a gentle and ancient marine reptile. These turtles have been swimming in Earth’s oceans for over 100 million years, surviving through vast evolutionary changes. They are named not for the color of their shells, which range from olive to brown, but for the greenish hue of their body fat, a result of their herbivorous diet.

Green sea turtles inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, often seen grazing on seagrass meadows and algae along shallow coastal areas. Adults can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length and weigh around 160 kilograms (350 pounds), though some individuals can grow even larger.

These turtles play an essential ecological role by maintaining the health of seagrass beds, which serve as breeding grounds for many marine species. They are known for their incredible migrations, traveling thousands of kilometers between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Females return to the very beaches where they were born, using the Earth’s magnetic field as a natural compass.

Unfortunately, green sea turtles are listed as endangered due to poaching, habitat destruction, bycatch in fishing nets, and pollution. Plastic waste, in particular, poses a deadly threat as turtles often mistake it for jellyfish, one of their occasional foods. Conservation efforts, including the protection of nesting sites and marine reserves, are critical to ensure their survival.