Natural History- Green Sea Turtle

This spring I had the opportunity to travel to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. While snorkeling one afternoon, I encountered two green sea turtles in some seagrass. The green sea turtle, or Chelonia mydas, is an endangered species in the U.S.  Female green sea turtles have a range from the southeast U.S. to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands. This turtle was identified from other sea turtles by its’ carapace. Green sea turtles have the identifying characteristics of 4 lateral scutes on their carapace. Green sea turtles can grow to between 3 and four feet. The one I found while snorkeling was close to 4 feet long! Adult green sea turtles are herbivores with their diet consisting mainly of seagrasses and algae, which explains why I found them in a field of seagrass. Both the size and feeding characteristics lend to this turtle being an adult. The sex of this turtle was indistinguishable. Even though its' name is the green sea turtle, the turtle was actually a light brown. This turtle gets its' name from their green subdermal body fat. The life history of green sea turtles begins when females dig holes on beaches to lay their eggs after several weeks of mating. Female green sea turtles lay between 75-200 eggs each time they nest. After the female has laid their eggs, the female does not have any further parental care for the babies. The eggs incubate in the sand for 2 months before making their way to the ocean and try to survive the first few months of life. Green sea turtles are not able to begin breeding until they are between 10 and 25 years old and breed only every 3-4 years which is one reason they are an endangered species. It was a great experience getting to see the green sea turtle in nature. Because they are an endangered species, most people are only able to see them in aquariums. This is definitely something that I will always remember!