" Green Sea Turtle." World Wildlife Fund. "Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas." NOAA Fisheries. " Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas." National Wildlife Fund. " Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)." ECOS (Environmental Conservation Online System) U.S. While sea turtles have fairly mobile necks, they cannot withdraw their heads into their shells. Green sea turtles are named for the greenish color of their cartilage and fat, not their shells. The adult green sea turtle has an upper shell that blends several colors, gray, black, olive, and brown its undershell, called a plastron, is whitish to yellow. Green sea turtles are distinguished by their streamlined shell or carapace, which covers their entire body except for flippers and head. Population: Two largest are the Tortuguero population on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica (22,500 females nest there each season) and Raine Island in the Australian Great Barrier Reef (18,000 females nest). Nesting occurs in over 80 countries, and they live in the coastal waters of 140 countries Habitat: In warm subtropical and tropical ocean waters. Size: Adults grow to between 31–47 inches. Common Name(s): Green sea turtle, black sea turtle (in the eastern Pacific). Learn more about what we are doing to combat poaching and feminisation. Although they are faced with threats of feminisation, illegal trade, poaching, fishery bycatch and loss of habitat, together we can help save the sea turtle. In fact, five of the six species of sea turtle found in Australia are now listed as endangered or vulnerable. The majestic sea turtle may have been present in the oceans for more than 100 million years but their numbers in many places are declining. Without males the future of the species and their ability to reproduce is threatened. Increased temperatures means in some rookeries in the northern Great Barrier Reef virtually only female green turtles are being born. Rising temperatures due to climate changes, means they are under threat Because of rising temperatures we are trialling methods to cool the sand of turtle nests on Milman Island, off the coast of Far North Queensland, to help protect future populations. Temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius are fatal. The temperature of the sand during incubation dictates a turtle’s genderĪlthough different for each sea turtle, temperatures below 29 degrees Celsius predominantly produce male species whereas temperatures above this generally produce female turtles. Here, they dig nests roughly 55-65 cm deep and lay a ‘clutch’ of eggs. This journey is made every two to four years. When they are ready to nest, adult female turtles return to the beaches where they hatched decades ago to lay their eggs. This helps us understand where they may need further protection.ĭepending on the species, sea turtles reach sexual maturity between 20-40 years. We’ve found they migrate from nesting beaches in northeast Queensland and Papua New Guinea to the Torres Strait and waters surrounding Cape York. 
WWF-Australia has used satellite trackers to help map the migration patterns and feeding areas of hawksbill turtles.
Hawksbills are also known to make long journeys. Female green turtles have been known to travel more than 2,600 kilometres in their migrations between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. They can be found nesting along the coastline of more than 80 countries around the world, with the largest nesting populations found in Costa Rica and Australia. Hawksbills are named for their bird-like beak, which is used to pry food from small crevices in coral reefs.Īll sea turtles are prolific travellers. Scientists believe this green coloured fat is the result of their favourite foods - seaweed and seagrass. The green sea turtle gets its name not from the colour of its shell, but from the green fat deposits around its internal organs. Hawksbill turtles are slightly smaller, weighing up to 80 kilograms and 1 metre long. Green sea turtles are one of the world’s largest species of turtle, weighing up to 200 kilograms and measuring up to 1.5 metres long. How much do you know about these ancient mariners and the threats they face? They’ve been swimming in our seas since the time of the dinosaurs, but now human interference is having a deadly impact.
Australian waters are home to six of the seven species of sea turtle in the world.
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