GREEN TURTLE

Chelonia mydas

Green sea turtles are the largest of the six hard-shelled sea turtle species, growing to between 3-4 feet long and 300-350 pounds in weight. They are also the only herbivorous sea turtle species, which causes their fat to be green, giving them their name, green turtle. They have grey, brown, or green shells with five scutes (shell panels) down the middle of their shell, and four scutes on either side. Green sea turtles can be found in subtropical and temperate waters in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Bimini is an important foraging site for juvenile green sea turtles, which are most commonly found in the South Flats of South Bimini and in Bonefish Hole on North Bimini. The IUCN Red List currently lists green sea turtles as being endangered with decreasing populations.