Living Beings
    Source-identified Chelonia mydas; Documentary organism photograph. Framed for display
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    Total internal reflection of Chelonia mydas.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph. Brocken Inaglory · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Green Sea Turtle

    Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

    The parentheses indicate that the original description used a different genus. Zoological naming rules ↗

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    AnimaliaTestudinesCheloniidae

    Green sea turtles connect coastal feeding grounds with nesting beaches. Adults often graze seagrass and algae, while younger turtles can use different habitats and consume a wider range of food.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

    Compare species
    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumChordata
    5. OrderTestudines
    6. FamilyCheloniidae
    7. GenusChelonia
    8. SpeciesChelonia mydas
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Bilateria clade
    7. Deuterostomia clade
    8. Chordata phylum
    9. Craniata subphylum
    10. Vertebrata clade
    11. Gnathostomata clade
    12. Teleostomi clade
    13. Euteleostomi clade
    14. Sarcopterygii superclass
    15. Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
    16. Tetrapoda clade
    17. Amniota clade
    18. Sauropsida clade
    19. Sauria clade
    20. Archelosauria clade
    21. Testudinata subclass
    22. Testudines order
    23. Cryptodira suborder
    24. Durocryptodira clade
    25. Americhelydia clade
    26. Chelonioidea superfamily
    27. Cheloniidae family
    28. Chelonia genus
    29. Chelonia mydas species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    A streamlined shell, paddle-like forelimbs and a relatively small head suit marine life. The common name refers to body fat rather than a uniformly green shell.

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    Habitat and range

    Seagrass beds, algal areas and other coastal habitats support feeding. Females require suitable sandy beaches to nest.

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    Diet and nutrition

    Many adults are primarily herbivorous. Juveniles may also eat animal material, so diet changes with life stage and locality.

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    Behavior and activity

    Turtles migrate between feeding and breeding areas and return to the surface to breathe.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Females bury eggs in beach nests. Hatchlings enter the sea and pass through juvenile habitats before adulthood.

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    Geographic distribution

    The species occurs in tropical and subtropical oceans. Nesting and feeding populations should be interpreted regionally.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗ · Scientific source 4 ↗

    Ecological role

    Grazing influences seagrass and algal communities, and movements redistribute nutrients.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Efficient swimming and orientation support travel between distant habitats.

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    Conservation

    The global IUCN assessment published in 2025 lists the green turtle as Least Concern. This global improvement does not remove regional threats from bycatch, coastal development or habitat loss, and it is distinct from national protection categories.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗ · Scientific source 4 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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