Adult green sea turtles are mostly herbivores, munching on sea grass and algae. Their diet gives their fat a greenish color, which is how they got their name
Shell Style
Their smooth, heart-shaped shell can grow up to 5 feet long, and they can weigh as much as a refrigerator—around 700 pounds!
Nighttime Nesters
Female green sea turtles crawl onto beaches at night to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs, usually around 100 at a time.
Underwater Olympians
Green sea turtles can swim at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour when they need to escape predators like sharks.
Green Sea Turtle Quiz
Why are green sea turtles called green?
They get their name from the green-colored fat inside their bodies, which comes from eating algae and sea grass.
How big can a green sea turtle's shell get?
Green sea turtles can grow shells up to 4 feet long and weigh as much as 700 pounds.
Where do female green sea turtles lay their eggs?
Female green sea turtles crawl onto sandy beaches to dig nests and lay their eggs, usually at night.
What is one major threat to green sea turtles today?
Green sea turtles face threats from plastic pollution, fishing nets, and the destruction of nesting beaches.
How far do green sea turtles migrate between feeding and nesting grounds?
Green sea turtles are long-distance travelers and can migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles across oceans to return to the beaches where they were born.
