# Typical Sea Turtles (*Cheloniidae*) Sea turtles are amazing reptiles that live in the ocean. They have hard shells and can swim long distances. They are gentle creatures and love to eat jellyfish and sea grass! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Marine Turtle ![Typical Sea Turtles](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Green_turtle_swimming_over_coral_reefs_in_Kona.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_turtle_swimming_over_coral_reefs_in_Kona.jpg) ## Appearance The Typical Sea Turtles has a large, streamlined, tear-drop shaped shell, often in shades of green, brown, or olive. Its powerful front flippers are paddle-like, helping it glide gracefully through the ocean. Unlike land turtles, its head and limbs cannot retract into its shell. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Cheloniidae ## Interesting facts - Baby turtle gender is decided by the temperature of the sand in their nest! - Female sea turtles often return to the exact same beach where they were born to lay eggs! - Sea turtles have no teeth, but powerful beaks perfectly shaped for their specific diets! - Tiny hatchlings spend their first mysterious "lost years" drifting alone in the vast ocean! ## Special abilities - **Ocean Navigator:** Typical Sea Turtles can find their way across vast oceans because they use the Earth's magnetic field like a built-in compass. - **Deep Breath Holder:** Typical Sea Turtles can stay underwater for hours, even sleeping, thanks to their efficient lungs and slow metabolism. - **Salt Expeller:** Typical Sea Turtles can drink saltwater because special glands behind their eyes help them cry out excess salt. - **Hydrodynamic Glider:** Typical Sea Turtles has a smooth, flattened shell and powerful flippers that help them glide effortlessly through water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 75-150 cm - **Weight:** 70-200 kg - **Lifespan:** 50-100 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 10 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 50-200 - **Incubation:** 45-70 days - **Maximum Depth:** 200 m ## Diet & Feeding Typical sea turtles eat a variety of foods like jellyfish, seagrass, crabs, and sponges depending on their species. - **Age differences:** Some species are more carnivorous as juveniles, shifting to a more plant-based diet as adults. - **Primary Foods:** Jellyfish, Seagrass, Crabs, Sponges, Algae, Mollusks - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tiger Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-shark) (*Galeocerdo cuvier*) — Major predator of adult and subadult turtles. - **Eats:** Barrel Jellyfish (*Rhizostoma pulmo*) — Many species feed on jellyfish in open water. - **Eats:** Turtle Grass (*Thalassia testudinum*) — Green sea turtles graze on this important seagrass. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch sea turtles from a distance and never touch them. They are wild animals! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Typical Sea Turtles? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Typical Sea Turtles? 75-150 cm ### How much does Typical Sea Turtles weigh? 70-200 kg ### How long does Typical Sea Turtles live? 50-100 years ### How fast can Typical Sea Turtles move? 35 km/h ### What does Typical Sea Turtles eat? Typical sea turtles eat a variety of foods like jellyfish, seagrass, crabs, and sponges depending on their species. ### How fast can Typical Sea Turtles swim? 10 km/h ### Where is Typical Sea Turtles usually found? Coastal areas ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Typical Sea Turtles: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/typical-sea-turtles)