How about reading some of the imperative green sea turtle facts. The Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a large turtle that belongs to the family of Cheloniidae. These types of turtles normally reside in the tropical as well as subtropical waters. They are also found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This is the only left specie of the genus Chelonia. Pacific green turtle is the other name of these animals. They have relatively a flat body with a teardrop-shape carapace. These species have flippers that help them to swim fast. Green sea turtle is also known to inhabit in logoons and seagrasses. These animals are also known to cover great distances while traveling. They have to come on beach for digging out nest where females usually lay eggs at night. Green sea turtles become mature at the age of 80 years. The population of these animals is threatened by illegal killing and are listed as endangered by IUCN. Pollution is one of the major causes of their deteriorating population.
Green Sea Turtle Facts
- The length of the green sea turtles measures around 1.5 metres (5 feet).
- Adults weigh around 68 – 190 kilograms (150 – 420 lb) on an average.
- The carapace is a 78 – 112 cm (31 – 44 inches) long.
- One of the greatest weights recorded was 315 kg (690 lb), with the maximum weight of about 395 kg (870 lb), together with a 153 cm (60 inches) long carapace.
- The young turtles exhibit brownish carapaces as against the adult’s carapaces which is black in color.
- Green turtles spend most of their time under water and they remain submerged for about 4 – 5 minutes. These species only show up at the water surface for taking oxygen for every 1 – 3 seconds.
- They can reach a speed of about 2.5 – 3 km (1.6 – 1.9 mph).
Where Do Green Sea Turtles Live?
A good many number of sea turtles are found in the tropical and subtropical oceans, with the discrete population inhabits in Atlantic and Pacific waters. Green sea turtle facts about its distribution display some other places where these animals live such as British Isles, Unites States, Eastern Africa, Argentine, Caribbean, South American Islands, North Atlantic Islands, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and North of Canada. Some of these species also reside in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. There are about 6,000 – 13,000 sea turtles living in South America.
Green sea turtles primarily feed in Florida Keys, Crystal River, Cedar Key, Homosassa, and Indian River. These types of turtles also subsist in Alaska, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Tasmania, and Indian Ocean. The widespread distribution of green sea turtles across the world encompasses Hawaiian Islands, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Pacific, Mexico, Turtle Bay, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar. Some other notable nesting places include Gulf of California, Turtle Islands, Philippines, French Frigate Shoals, Meru Betiri, Hawke’s Bay, Raine Island, Baluchistan, Astola Island, and Arabian Sea. These sea turtles prefer to stay mostly in their shallow coastal waters where eggs are usually laid.
Green Sea Turtle | Predators
The study of green sea turtle facts shows that these animals have few predators. Apart from human hunting, tiger sharks that belong to the Hawaiian Islands are one of the most frequent hunters of adult green sea turtles. However, when it comes to the young turtles, they are relatively vulnerable to more predators that include shorebirds, marine mammals, red foxes, jackals, and crabs.
Interesting Green Sea Turtle Facts | Reproduction
These types of turtles are the strong migratory animals in that they travel 2,600 km (1,600 miles) in water. Females mate after every 2 – 4 years. The mating season ranges from June to September. The clutch size comprises 100 to 200 eggs even though the clutch size differs from species to species. Females after eggs shed it under the sand. The hatching begins at 45 – 75 days. It is estimated that around 6,000 – 15,000 nests are created by females annually.
The skin of the turtles has long been admired for commercial purposes such as to make handbags and this is especially true in Hawaii. In China, the turtle soup is one of the favorites that come up with the turtle’s fat, cartilage and calipee. In other countries like Indonesia, people like to eat turtle’s eggs. In these countries, people have built large farms for these turtles hosting almost 100,000 turtles in a single farm.
Threats to Green Sea Turtle
It goes without saying that humans have contributed so much in exterminating turtles’ population. Habitat destruction is another major cause of its extinction. Chemical pollution is responsible for giving rise to tumors in these turtles.
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