Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)

Fun facts

1
The 'green' in green sea turtle actually refers to the color of the fat under its shell - not its shell color at all!^[1]
2
The largest known green sea turtle ever recorded weighed a whopping 395 kg - heavier than most grand pianos!^[1]
3
Hawaiian green turtles travel some 800 km from the main islands to nest at the remote French Frigate Shoals.^[1]
4
Green sea turtles that survive to adulthood can live up to 90 years in the wild!^[1]
5
In 2015, a record-breaking 37,000 green sea turtle nests were counted on Florida's beaches in a single year.^[1]
6
Atlantic and Pacific green turtle populations can be told apart by the type of mitochondrial DNA inside their cells.^[1]
7
Green sea turtles are the only aquatic turtle species that becomes fully herbivorous as an adult.^[1]
8
Hatchlings are born with mostly black shells, which gradually shift to dark brown, olive, and eventually spotted or marbled patterns as they grow.^[1]

References [1] Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

Not veterinary advice. General guidance to help you care for your pet. For anything specific to your animal, speak to a vet.