Description

• Chelonia mydas, commonly known as the green sea turtle, is a large marine reptile in the family Cheloniidae. It has a smooth, oval shell, a relatively small head, and paddle-shaped flippers adapted for swimming. The shell varies from olive green to brown or nearly black, often with mottled or radiating patterns. Its common name refers to the greenish colour of its body fat, not necessarily its shell. Adults are primarily herbivorous.

Range

• The green sea turtle occurs in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In the eastern Pacific, it ranges along the coast of Mexico and Central America, including the waters of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• Green sea turtles inhabit coastal waters, lagoons, bays, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. Juveniles often spend time in pelagic environments before moving into coastal feeding grounds as they mature. Females return to sandy beaches to lay their eggs, typically nesting at night.

Diet

• Adult green sea turtles feed mainly on seagrasses and marine algae, grazing on underwater vegetation in coastal habitats. Juveniles may have a more varied diet that includes small invertebrates. Their predominantly plant-based diet as adults distinguishes them from many other sea turtle species.