Green Sea Turtle

The Green Sea Turtle is a threatened species that is found in the Atlantic, Indian, and
Pacific Oceans. Their status in the United States under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act
is threatened. These turtles were downlisted from Endangered in 2016. Internationally, they are
listed as endangered, where they could face extinction in the wild in the near future by the
International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources. The Chelonia mydas
has a carapace or shell length of 40
inches and can weigh from 200-500
pounds. They eat worms, young
crustaceans, aquatic insects, grasses
and algae when less than 8 to 10
inches, but eat mainly seagrass and
algae when about 8 to 10 inches.
Green turtles exhibit
countershading with a shell that can
range from olive brown to black in
color and a much lighter yellow
plastron or underside. These turtles
have five vertebral scutes running
down the middle of their shell and
four costal scutes on each side. A
scute is a bony external plate or scale overlaid with a horn, as on the shell of a turtle. These
turtles nest 3 to 5 times per season about every 2 years. They lay an average of 115 eggs in each
nest, and they incubate for about 60 days. Their greatest threat is from the commercial harvest
for eggs and food. Other parts are used for leather and small turtles are sometimes stuffed for
curios, which is a rare, unusual, or intriguing object. The turtles also sometimes captured in
commercial fishing. Today, these turtles are managed by the Endangered Species Act and
Hawaii State Law. The Sea Turtle Conservancy is a non profitable organization that puts their
time into saving the Green Sea Turtle and raising awareness. Ways you can help include
donating, reducing the amount of plastic garbage you use, and keeping beaches and waterways
clear of trash. To learn more on where you can donate and find more ways to help out, go to:
https://conserveturtles.org/.