Chelonia mydas

Green Turtle

Upp till 1.5 meter
80+ år
Hotad
Om

Green Turtle

The green turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle and one of the most widely distributed, found in tropical and subtropical waters across every ocean. Named not for its shell but for the green colour of its body fat (from its herbivorous diet), this gentle marine reptile is a reef ecosystem engineer — grazing seagrass beds keeps them healthy and productive. Green turtles can live for over 80 years and undertake migrations of thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds and nesting beaches.

Storlek

Upp till 1.5 meter (sköldlängd)

Vikt

150–400 kg

Livslängd

80+ år

Status

Hotad

Var du hittar dem

Bästa dykplatser

MaldivernaGreat Barrier Reef, AustralienSipadan, MalaysiaGalápagosöarnaRöda havet, EgyptenHawaiiKomodo, IndonesienFilippinernaFijiKaribien

Dyktips

Green turtles are generally docile and tolerant of divers when approached slowly. They often rest under coral ledges or graze on seagrass flats. Never touch, chase, or block their path to the surface — they need to breathe. Respect nesting beaches and avoid disturbing nesting females.

Bästa säsong

Year-round; nesting season varies by region (typically May–October in Caribbean)

Livsmiljö

Tropical and subtropical coral reefs, seagrass beds, and coastal areas worldwide. Nests on sandy beaches.

Föda

Primarily herbivorous — seagrass and algae. Juveniles also eat jellyfish and invertebrates.
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Roliga fakta

1

Green turtles navigate thousands of kilometres using Earth's magnetic field to return to the exact beach where they were born

2

A single female can lay over 100 eggs per nest, with up to 5 clutches per nesting season

3

The sex of hatchlings is determined by sand temperature — warmer nests produce females

4

They can hold their breath for up to 5 hours while sleeping underwater

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