CHELONIA MYDAS GREEN SEA TURTLE. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS Carapace (shell) color varies from pale to...
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Transcript of CHELONIA MYDAS GREEN SEA TURTLE. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS Carapace (shell) color varies from pale to...
BASIC CHARACTERISTICS
• Carapace (shell) color varies from pale to dark green with yellow, brown and green tones. • Size: Adults are 3-4 feet in carapace length.• Largest of the Cheloniidae family• Adults weigh between 240-420 pounds
ECOSYSTEM
• Moving across three habitat types based on life cycle:• Lay eggs on beaches• Mature turtles spend their time in shallow, coastal waters
(lush sea beds)• Adults: inshore beds, lagoons, shoals
DIET
• Only truly herbivorous marine turtle• Feed mainly on sea grasses or algae• Serrated jaw to help turtle easily chew their food
• Juvenile green sea turtles are omnivores• They eat plant/animal life (insects, crustaceans, sea
grass, and worms)
REPRODUCTION
• Breeding season in late spring early summer• Adult males breed every year, while females
breed every 3-4 years • Female digs hole on beach for 75-200 eggs two
weeks after mating• Eggs incubate for 60 days
THREATS
• Habitat loss and degradation• Climate change• Pollution• Fibropapillomas- tumorous disease• Commercial fishing• Marine Debris (ingestion)
CONSERVATION EFFORTS
• Listing them on the RED LIST- endangered species list• Blocking nests from other species• Changing fishing habits• Bycatching
WORKS CITED
• http://www.conserveturtles.org/seaturtleinformation.php?page=green• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3
642.1958.tb00583.x/abstract - Google scholar article• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/
green.htm• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/images/turtles/
green_bruckner_hires_noaa.jpg• http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_sp
ecies/marine_turtles/green_turtle/