green sea turtle
Herbivorous ocean reptile
A green sea turtle is a large marine turtle found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
The name comes from the greenish color of its body fat, not its shell.
Green sea turtles are herbivorous as adults, grazing on seagrass and algae.
They're an endangered species, protected internationally: We spotted a green sea turtle while snorkeling off the reef.
Massive saltwater body
- seagrassSaltwater flowering plant
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- migrationMovement to new territory
- flippersFoot-worn swim aids
diving · hatchling · currents · tropical · Pacific · Atlantic · Caribbean · Indo-Pacific
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- flippersFoot-worn swim aids
- shellHard outer covering
beak · streamlined · cold-blooded · ectothermic · chelonian · oviparous · scales · keratin
Making a dwelling
- hatchlingRecently emerged young
- eggsReproductive cells in shells
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
- incubationDevelopment before emergence
emergence · crawl · imprinting · juvenile · maturation · longevity · mating · breeding
Saltwater flowering plant
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- herbivorePlant-only consumer
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
jellyfish · sponges · sea lettuce · eelgrass · browsing · digestive · gut flora · seagrass beds
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
CITES · bycatch · protected · sanctuary · wildlife trade · ecotourism · tagging · monitoring
ocean
Massive saltwater body
- seagrassSaltwater flowering plant
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- migrationMovement to new territory
flippers · diving · hatchling · currents · tropical · Pacific · Atlantic · Caribbean · Indo-Pacific · Hawaiian
carapace
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
shell · beak · streamlined · cold-blooded · ectothermic · chelonian · oviparous · scales · keratin · lungs
nesting
Making a dwelling
- hatchlingRecently emerged young
- eggsReproductive cells in shells
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
incubation · emergence · crawl · imprinting · juvenile · maturation · longevity · mating · breeding · sex determination
seagrass
Saltwater flowering plant
foraging · jellyfish · sponges · sea lettuce · eelgrass · browsing · digestive · gut flora · seagrass beds
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
habitat loss · CITES · bycatch · protected · sanctuary · wildlife trade · ecotourism · tagging · monitoring · rehabilitation
- marine reptilessea snake, plesiosaur, ichthyosaur, mosasaur, marine iguana
- reptileslizard, snake, crocodile, alligator, python
- Australian wildlifekangaroo, koala, platypus, echidna, wombat
- island wildlifemarine iguana, Darwin's finches, Galapagos tortoise, giant tortoise, giant tortoises
- Pacific wildlifecoconut crab, flying fox, fruit bat, frigatebird, booby
- Turtlesterrapin, tortoise, cooter, slider, loggerhead
green sea turtletortoise
Land-dwelling shelled reptile
desert tortoise · Galápagos tortoise · box turtle · gopher tortoise
green, turtle, greener, greenest, greenly, greenness, greenish, greens, greening