Written by Ava Perry.

The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a species that ranges in waters through the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, but is most common in the tropics (Seminoff, Resendiz, Nichols, & Jones 2002). C. mydas are herbivorous and prefer to live in areas of shallow water that support an abundance of submerged vegetation. C. mydas migrate across open seas and often spend the majority of their lives migrating to and from their nesting areas (Awbry, Leatherwood, Mitchell, & Rogers 1984).

Chelonia mydas foraging areas are shallow, quiet, and well-lighted places that allow for abundances of sea grass and algae, the two main components of the turtles’ diet (Ferri 2002). The algae consumed gives the turtles’ fat a green color, which is also where their common name comes from (Ernst, Barber, & Lovich 1994). Although C. mydas foraging areas are very close to shore, many migrate long distances to reach their breeding site. The maximum recorded distance traveled by a C. mydas was 3,085 km (1,900 miles), about the same distance from St. Peter, MN to Miami, FL!

Many of the Green Sea Turtles in the Mexican population are at risk from human interaction. People who live nearby the turtles often harvest the eggs to eat and use the turtles themselves for products, including oil and leather (IUCN 1995; Sterling & Naro-Maceil 2006). Water pollution, such as oil spills, has caused many marine turtles (especially C. mydas) to be found dying and dead. The IUCN red list has listed C. mydas as endangered, and the turtles are also listed in CITES Appendix 1 (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna). Without active intervention and management, green sea turtle populations are expected and most likely will continue to decline to extinction. Organizations like the Marine Turtle Specialist Group are implementing programs to help promote the survival of marine turtle populations, but the turtles need more help. With help from the Marine Turtle Specialist Groups and individuals like you and I, C. mydas populations can grow and no longer be in danger of extinction.






Want to Learn More?

Awbry, F. T., S. Leatherwood, E. D. Mitchell, and W. Rogers. 1984. Nesting Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) on Isla Clarión, Islas Revillagigedos, Mexico. Southern California Academy of Sciences 83:69-75.

Ernst, C. H., R. W. Barbour, and J. E. Lovich. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Instiution, United States of America.

Ferri, V. 2002. Turtles & tortoises. Firefly Books Ltd., Willowdale, Ontario.

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). 1995. A global strategy for the conservation of marine turtles. IUCN, Cambridge, U.K. Available from: http://www.iucn-mtsg.org/publications/Glob_strat/Global_strategy_ENG.pdf (accessed October 2009).

Seminoff, J. A., A. Resendiz, W. J. Nichols, and T. T. Jones. 2002. Growth rates of Wild Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at a temperate foraging area in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Copeia 3:610-617.

Sterling, E., and E. Naro-Maciel. 2006. Distribution and Abundance of Endangered Marine Turtles at Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific. Society for Conservation Biology, Washington, D.C. Available from: http://www.conbio.org/Activities/Meetings/2006/poster_abstracts.pdf (accessed October 2009).


Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

Marine Ecoregions of the World







This page was created from an environmental education writing project generated in the Fall 2009 Bio245 Conservation Biology class. Content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Gustavus Adolphus College.

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