Green Sea Turtle

Where they live

• Green sea turtles are found in subtropical and tropical oceans worldwide, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
• Their preference for warmer waters, those above 20°C, is due to their sensitivity to cold and heat.
• Males spend their entire lives out at sea, while females only come out of the water to lay eggs.

What they eat

• Adult green sea turtles are strict plant eaters and spend much of their time eating algae in the ocean or grass in shallow waters.
• However, young green sea turtles are also able to eat jellyfish, worms, snails, sponges, and crabs.

Breeding

• Every 2 to 3 years, females travel to the same beach they were born to lay their eggs.
• She digs a deep nest using her back legs.
• Lays 100 to 200 eggs, and covers her nest with sand.
• The young hatch after about 2 months and head straight for sea.

Cool Biology Facts

• Some female green sea turtles have been observed digging a fake nest next to their real nest in order to deceive predators who might want to eat the eggs.
• Green sea turtles have been known to travel 3,000 miles at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour!

Threats

• Green sea turtles are considered an endangered species. Their main threats include loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development and hunting for their meat, hides, and eggs.