Atlantic Green Turtle

Atlantic Green Turtle

The atlantic green turtle is largest hard-shelled sea turtle. Adults typically weigh upwards of 300 pounds and have a length of about 40 inches! This is an interesting contrast to hatchling turtles, which are quite small, only 25g in weight and about 2 inches long.

Female turtles lay their eggs in nests above the high water line on beaches and then return to the ocean. The eggs in the nest take about 60 days to hatch. Hatchling turtles use the moonlight to find the correct direction to the water after they hatch. Hatchlings head towards the open ocean for several years to feed on floating sea weeds. Later in life the juvenile turtles return to coastal areas; this is when they are often seen on the reefs.

These turtles are known to migrate several hundred miles to reach mating and feeding habitats.

Hatchlings shells are black on top and white on the bottom.

These turtles are now an endangered species, but historically, they were hunted for food.

It is estimated that Green Turtles can take between 15 to 30 years to reach sexual maturity in the wild.

Atlantic green turtles feed mainly on sea grasses and algae.