Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
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photo © Broward County Sea Turtle Project
Size- 5 feet, 250-280 lbs.
Identifiers- brown/olive back, yellow skin
- scales do not overlap
Adaptations- lower jaw serrated
Status- State/Federal Listed: Endangered
- Atlantic coast, scattered along Gulf coast
Distribution- Atlantic and Pacific warm waters
Habitat- open seas, beaches
Reproduction- 100+ spherical eggs
- laid on beach in dug out holes
Diet- sea grasses, algae
Fun facts
- only plant-eating sea turtle
- major Florida nesting area; Cape Canaveral/Palm Beach
- hunted for eggs, meat, oils and skin in south American waters
- North American commercial fishermen use Turtle Exclusion Devices
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