C H E LO N I A M Y DA S

GREEN SEA TURTLE

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS

• Carapace (shell) color varies from pale to dark green with yellow, brown and green tones. • Size: Adults are 3-4 feet in carapace length.• Largest of the Cheloniidae family• Adults weigh between 240-420 pounds

LOCATION

• Tropical and Subtropical• Two major subpopulations• Atlantic• Eastern Pacific

ECOSYSTEM

• Moving across three habitat types based on life cycle:• Lay eggs on beaches• Mature turtles spend their time in shallow, coastal waters

(lush sea beds)• Adults: inshore beds, lagoons, shoals

DIET

• Only truly herbivorous marine turtle• Feed mainly on sea grasses or algae• Serrated jaw to help turtle easily chew their food

• Juvenile green sea turtles are omnivores• They eat plant/animal life (insects, crustaceans, sea

grass, and worms)

REPRODUCTION

• Breeding season in late spring early summer• Adult males breed every year, while females

breed every 3-4 years • Female digs hole on beach for 75-200 eggs two

weeks after mating• Eggs incubate for 60 days

THREATS

• Habitat loss and degradation• Climate change• Pollution• Fibropapillomas- tumorous disease• Commercial fishing• Marine Debris (ingestion)

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

• Listing them on the RED LIST- endangered species list• Blocking nests from other species• Changing fishing habits• Bycatching

WORKS CITED

• http://www.conserveturtles.org/seaturtleinformation.php?page=green• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3

642.1958.tb00583.x/abstract - Google scholar article• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/

green.htm• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/images/turtles/

green_bruckner_hires_noaa.jpg• http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_sp

ecies/marine_turtles/green_turtle/