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Species ProfilesGreen Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Green sea turtles have a gray, green, black and brown shell that covers both their dorsal (back) and ventral (under) sides. The turtles reach three feet in length and can weigh nearly 400 pounds. Though their terrestrial counterparts are always losing the proverbial race with the hare, these marine turtles can reach speeds of up to 35 mph. Unlike their land-based brethren, the sea turtle's heads is not retractable. They breathe air, and when asleep are able to submerge for up to two hours without resurfacing for oxygen.
On average, green sea turtles reach sexual maturity at age of 25. Their estimated lifespan is 50 years. Females nest nocturnally, laying roughly 100 eggs at a time in their "clutch" or nest. The eggs hatch following a two-month incubation period spent buried beneath the sand. Once the eggs hatch, the mother never returns to the nest. Of the 100 hatchlings, a very small number ever reach maturity; many fall prey to crabs and birds during their first trip to the ocean. Once they reach maturity, green sea turtles have two main predators: sharks and people, the latter being responsible for much of the population decline. Human use of nesting beaches, poaching, either for food or ornamentation and human interference with marine habitat are the main culprits in the decline of the species, which was declared endangered in July of 1978. Current population figures for the green sea turtle are unavailable and highly speculative. Sources: Back to Species Profiles Table of Contents
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