Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

One of the ocean’s most recognizable travelers, the Green Sea Turtle can journey
thousands of miles between feeding grounds and nesting beaches.

Meet the Green Sea Turtle

Named for the greenish color of the fat beneath its shell, this remarkable traveler inhabits tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Adults feed primarily on seagrasses and algae, helping maintain healthy marine ecosystems.

The Journey Continues

Female Green Sea Turtles return to sandy beaches to lay their eggs, often traveling great distances between feeding and nesting grounds.

After nesting, they make their way back
to the ocean, leaving behind the next generation beneath the sand. Weeks later, the hatchlings will begin
a remarkable journey of their own.

Built for the Journey

  • Extraordinary Travelers

    Green Sea Turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and nesting beaches, navigating across vast stretches of ocean.

  • Ocean Gardeners

    Adults primarily graze on seagrasses and algae. Their feeding helps maintain productive seagrass habitats that support marine life.

  • Returning Home

    Females return to nesting regions to lay their eggs, continuing a life cycle that has played out on beaches for millions of years.

A Future Worth Protecting

Green Sea Turtles face threats throughout their lives—from habitat loss and plastic pollution to accidental capture in fishing gear and disturbance on nesting beaches. Protecting the places they feed, migrate and nest helps give future generations a chance to continue their extraordinary journey.

Learn How You Can Help