Swimming in the depths of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are the beautiful Green Sea Turtles.  These wondrous creatures swim the oceans using their large paddle-like flippers. They are known for their smooth and flat underbellies with a tear dropped shaped hardened shell to protect their organs.  They are called Green Sea Turtles because the soft fat tissue under the shell is green.  The shell itself is usually a lighter in color, however some of the upper parts of the shell can be as dark as black.  Mature Green Sea Turtles can reach up to five feet in length and weigh between two hundred forty and four hundred pounds. They are known for their migration habits.

A female will travel the beaches to dig, lay, and bury its eggs and then leave the nest and head back out into the ocean.  Once these eggs hatch, they then migrate into the ocean to survive on their own.  As tiny little turtles, they are rarely seen on the ocean’s shallowest floor.  As adults they will live in the shallow waters feeding on the lush sea grasses free to roam until one of their two predators catch them, humans or larger sharks.   Because of their predators, they have reached Endangered on the Conservation list.  If they are able to stay away from predators, most mature sea turtles can live to an average age of eighty years old.

In order to save this endangered animal from extinction many countries and organizations have undergone initiatives and conservation.  Country specific initiatives have enabled hatcheries in order to protect the eggs from being scavenged by wild animals.  Those living in the native countries where these amazing, but endangered creatures wander, should join in the efforts of keeping  the Green Sea Turtle safe.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.