Species Reptiles & AmphibiansGreen Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

RareReptile & Amphibian
Illustration of Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

The Green Sea Turtle is named for the green fat beneath its shell, colored by its herbivorous diet. It is the only sea turtle that comes ashore to bask. Endangered due to historic overhunting for meat and eggs.

Habitat
Tropical coastal waters, seagrass beds, and coral reefs
Diet
Seagrass and algae
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Green Sea Turtle

The best time to see a Green Sea Turtle is January–July, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 14,709 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Green Sea Turtle sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

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