Nature Encyclopedia

  Introduction Green Sea Turtle swimming above a colorful coral reef The Green Sea Turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) is one of the largest and most recognizable sea turtles in the world. It is the only sea turtle species that becomes primarily herbivorous as an adult, feeding mainly on seagrasses and algae that help maintain healthy marine ecosystems. Named after the green-colored fat beneath its shell rather than the color of its shell, the Green Sea Turtle inhabits tropical and subtropical oceans around the globe. It is an excellent long-distance swimmer and is known for returning to the same beach where it was born to lay eggs. Although these turtles have existed for more than 100 million years , they now face serious threats from habitat loss, plastic pollution, fishing gear, climate change, and illegal hunting. As a result, the species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This complete guide explores the Green Sea Turtle's ha...