The green sea turtle is one of the largest hard-shelled turtles in the world and a flagship species of tropical marine conservation. Named for the greenish fat beneath its shell, it is the only predominantly herbivorous sea turtle, grazing on seagrass and algae. Female green turtles return with extraordinary precision to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs, navigating thousands of kilometres across open ocean using Earth’s magnetic field.
About the Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
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💡 Fun Facts
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Female green turtles return to nest on the exact beach where they hatched decades earlier, guided by the Earth's magnetic field.
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Sea turtle hatchlings navigate to the ocean by moving toward the brightest horizon — an instinct fatally confused by coastal artificial lights.
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The sex of sea turtle hatchlings is determined by nest temperature: warmer nests produce more females.
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Green turtles can hold their breath for up to 7 hours while resting on the seabed.
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Sea turtle tears are not emotional — they secrete excess salt consumed while feeding through orbital glands near their eyes.
📍 Where to Find This Animal
Habitat Types:
Tropical & Subtropical Oceans
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