Green Sea Turtles
By Jeff Fagan
Background of a Green Sea Turtle
• The green sea turtle grows to a maximum size
of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds
• It has a heart-shaped shell, small head, and
single-clawed flippers.
• Populations in Florida and on the Pacific Coast
of Mexico are listed as Endangered; all others
are listed as Threatened
Green Sea Turtle
Facts of a Green Sea Turtle
• The green turtle is a large, weighty sea turtle
with a wide, smooth carapace, or shell. It
inhabits tropical and subtropical coastal
waters around the world and has been
observed clambering onto land to sunbathe.
• It is named not for the color of its shell, which
is normally brown or olive depending on its
habitat, but for the greenish color of its skin.
More info on Green Sea Turtles
• Weighing up to 700 pounds (317.5 kilograms)
green turtles are among the largest sea turtles in
the world.
• Unlike most sea turtles, adult green turtles are
herbivorous, feeding on sea grasses and algae.
• Green turtles are listed as an endangered species,
and a subpopulation in the Mediterranean is
listed as critically endangered. Despite this, they
are still killed for their meat and eggs.
Green Sea Turtles
• They are cold-blooded, meaning that they get
their body heat from the environment rather
than making their own.
• They breathe air
• Their skin has scales
Green Sea Turtle
Where Can I find Green Sea Turtles
• Green sea turtles are found in the Pacific,
Atlantic and Indian oceans. They are sensitive
to heat and cold and prefer the warmer parts
of the oceans.
• Most of the time, Green Sea Turtles eats
plants, but they also eat sea creatures like
crayfish and crabs. Other turtles eat meat and
the Leatherback Turtle eats jellyfish
• Turtles live for 70 - 150 years.
Work Cited Page
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“Sea Turtle Quick Facts,” North Florida Ecological Service Office. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 10 Nov. 2009.
21 Sep. 2010 http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle-facts-index.htm
http://webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/gex_green-sea-turtle.jpg
“Green Sea Turtle” National Geographic 22 Sep. 2010.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-turtle/
“Green Sea Turtle” National Geographic 22 Sep. 2010.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-turtle/
“Green Sea Turtle” 22 Sep. 2010 http://www.earthtrust.org/wlcurric/turtles.html
http://seaturtles.pbworks.com/f/green%20sea%20turtle.JPG
“Animal Facts” Green Sea Turtle, Animals Myths & Legends, 22 Sep. 2010
http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/animals/facts_turtle.htm