Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Sea turtles are ancient reptiles that live in the ocean. They have flippers to help them swim and can hold their breath for a long time underwater. Sea turtles travel long distances and are important for keeping marine ecosystems healthy.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Sea Turtle has a smooth, heart-shaped carapace (shell) that ranges from olive-brown to black, often with lighter streaks. Its underside is typically yellowish-white. Unlike land turtles, it possesses powerful, paddle-like front flippers for efficient propulsion through water.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyCheloniidaeGenusChelonia

Sea Turtle

Interesting facts

A mother sea turtle often travels thousands of miles to lay her eggs on her birth beach!

Baby turtles know how to swim the instant they hatch and reach the ocean, it's amazing!

Some sea turtles can slow their heart rate to just one beat every nine minutes when diving deep!

The sand temperature where eggs incubate decides if baby turtles are boys or girls!

Special abilities

Sea turtles can use the Earth's magnetic field as a built-in GPS, which helps them find their way across vast oceans.

Sea turtles have special glands near their eyes that help them cry out excess salt from the ocean water they drink.

Sea turtles can hold their breath for hours, allowing them to dive deep for food or rest on the seafloor.

Measurements & details

Length: 78-112 cm
Weight: 110-318 kg
Lifespan: 80-100 years
Top Speed: 35 km/h
Swim Speed: 3.5 km/h
Clutch Size: 75-200
Incubation: 45-75 days
Max Depth: 200 m

Diet & Feeding

Green sea turtles are mostly plant-eaters, munching on tasty seagrass and algae!

Age differences: Young sea turtles eat more invertebrates like jellyfish, but adults become mostly vegetarian.

Primary Foods

Seagrass
Algae
Mangrove leaves

Foraging Method

Grazing

Ecological connections

eaten by

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Large adult sea turtles are hunted by this powerful apex predator.

eats

Ghost Crab

Ocypode quadrata

Hatchling sea turtles are vulnerable prey for these crabs on nesting beaches.

depends on

Turtle Grass

Thalassia testudinum

This seagrass is a primary food source for adult green sea turtles.

Traits

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Thermoregulating

Learn about incredible animals that can keep their body temperature just right, no matter how hot or cold it gets outside! They have special ways to stay warm or cool.

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.

Regenerative

Imagine if you could grow back a lost arm or tail! Some incredible creatures have the power to regrow body parts, making them truly amazing survivors in nature.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.