
Green turtles are the world's largest species of hard-shelled sea turtle and are found in tropical and subtropical waters across the globe. They are also the only herbivores among the different sea turtle species, eating mostly seaweed, seagrass, and algae. Green turtles are under threat from overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear, and the loss of nesting beach sites. While it is difficult to estimate their total population, a 2011 paper estimated that there were 90,000 green turtles globally.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Year | 2015 |
Number of Green Turtles in the World | 90,000 |
Number of Green Turtles in the Caribbean | 300,000 |
Number of Green Turtle Nests in the US | 2,394 |
Number of Green Turtle Nests in Florida | 1,053 |
Number of Green Turtle Nests in Hawaii | 1,100 |
Number of Green Turtle Nests in the US Territories | 241 |
What You'll Learn
- Green turtles are the world's largest species of hard-shelled sea turtle
- They are the only herbivores among sea turtles
- They are found in tropical and subtropical waters
- They are classified as endangered
- Their population is threatened by overharvesting of eggs, hunting, fishing gear, and loss of nesting sites
Green turtles are the world's largest species of hard-shelled sea turtle
Green turtles are found throughout the world. They nest in over 80 countries and live in the coastal areas of more than 140 countries. They are found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters. They are also found in the Mediterranean Sea.
Green turtles are the only herbivorous species of sea turtle. Their diet mainly consists of algae and seagrasses, though they may also forage on sponges, invertebrates, and discarded fish. The East Pacific green turtle tends to eat more animal prey than other populations.
Green turtles are long-lived and could live for at least 70 years or more. Female green turtles reach maturity at 25 to 35 years. Every 2 to 5 years they undertake reproductive migrations and return to nest on a beach in the general area where they hatched decades earlier.
Green turtles are classified as endangered. They are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear, and loss of nesting beach sites. They are also threatened by vessel strikes, ocean pollution, and climate change.
Green turtles are an important part of the marine ecosystem. They help maintain the health of seagrass beds by grazing on seagrasses and algae. This makes the seagrass beds more productive and provides food and shelter for many other species.
Conservation efforts are being made to protect green turtles and their habitats. These efforts include establishing marine protected areas, reducing bycatch in fisheries, and eliminating the killing of turtles and collection of their eggs.
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They are the only herbivores among sea turtles
Green turtles are the only herbivorous species of sea turtle. They are named for the greenish colour of their cartilage and fat, which comes from their diet of seaweed, seagrass, and algae. Their jaws are serrated to help them chew their food.
Green turtles are the largest species of hard-shelled sea turtle. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, primarily in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea. They migrate long distances between feeding grounds and the beaches where they hatched.
Green turtles are classified as endangered. Their eggs are overharvested, and adults are hunted for their meat and shells. They are also threatened by fishing gear, the loss of nesting beach sites, and climate change.
Efforts to protect green turtles include establishing marine protected areas and working with local communities to reduce turtle harvesting and egg collection.
While it is difficult to estimate the number of green turtles left in the world, a 2011 study estimated that there were approximately 1.5 million female green turtles worldwide, with 300,000 in the Caribbean alone.
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They are found in tropical and subtropical waters
Green turtles are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They migrate long distances between their feeding grounds and the beaches where they hatched. These feeding grounds include coral reefs rich in seaweed and coastal seagrass pastures.
In the United States, green turtles can be found in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters, from Texas to Maine, as well as in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Important feeding areas in Florida include the Indian River Lagoon, the Florida Keys, Florida Bay, and the Dry Tortugas. They are also found in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
In Australia, green turtles nest on the coast and migrate from feeding grounds in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is an important feeding area for turtles that nest locally and in other countries.
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They are classified as endangered
Green turtles are classified as endangered due to a variety of human actions and lifestyles. They are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear, and loss of nesting beach sites.
Firstly, green turtles are classified as endangered due to the overharvesting of their eggs and hunting of adults. Historically, green turtles were exploited for their fat, meat, and eggs, causing a global population decline. While many countries now prohibit the killing of green turtles and the collection of their eggs, they are still at risk in some areas. For example, in parts of Asia and the Western Pacific, tens of thousands of green turtles are harvested annually for human consumption and the wildlife trafficking trade.
Secondly, green turtles are endangered due to the threat of being caught in fishing gear. As highly migratory species, they can travel huge distances and are therefore at risk of accidental capture in commercial and recreational fishing gear, known as bycatch. This can result in drowning or cause injuries that lead to death or debilitation, such as swallowing hooks or flipper entanglement.
Thirdly, green turtles are classified as endangered due to the loss of nesting beach sites. Uncontrolled coastal development, vehicle traffic on beaches, and other human activities have directly destroyed or disturbed sea turtle nesting habitats worldwide. Additionally, coastal development can lead to pollution and sedimentation in nearby waters, further endangering green turtles.
Finally, green turtles face threats related to climate change, diseases such as fibropapilloma, and light pollution near beach nesting sites. Climate change can increase the frequency of extreme weather events, result in the loss of nesting beaches, and alter critical habitats and oceanographic processes. Light pollution near nesting sites can disorient adult females and lead hatchlings away from the sea, reducing their chances of survival.
The combination of these human-induced threats has led to green turtles being classified as endangered, and international cooperation is essential for their recovery and stability.
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Their population is threatened by overharvesting of eggs, hunting, fishing gear, and loss of nesting sites
Green turtles are classified as endangered and their population is threatened by overharvesting of eggs, hunting, fishing gear, and loss of nesting sites.
Overharvesting of Eggs
Historically, green turtles were killed in extraordinarily high numbers for their fat, meat, and eggs. This led to a catastrophic global decline in the species. While killing green turtles and collecting their eggs is illegal in the United States, it remains legal in some countries, which can disrupt regional recovery efforts. Tens of thousands of green turtle eggs are harvested every year, particularly in parts of Asia and the Western Pacific.
Hunting
Green turtles are still hunted and their eggs harvested, often for human consumption or trade. In West Africa, for example, sea turtles are killed for use in traditional medicine and ceremonies.
Fishing Gear
Sea turtles can be unintentionally captured in commercial and recreational fishing gear, which can result in drowning or cause injuries that lead to death or debilitation. This unintended capture is called "bycatch" and is a worldwide problem. The primary types of gear that result in bycatch of green turtles include trawls, gillnets, longlines, hook and line, and pot/traps.
Loss of Nesting Sites
Coastal development and rising sea levels due to climate change are leading to the loss of nesting beach habitats for green turtles. Shoreline hardening or armoring, such as seawalls, can result in the complete loss of dry sand suitable for successful nesting. Artificial lighting on and near nesting beaches can also deter nesting females from coming ashore and disorient hatchlings trying to find the sea.
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