Chelonia is a genus of marine turtles best known for its only living species, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). This large marine reptile inhabits tropical and subtropical oceans, migrates across extensive marine regions, and depends on coastal environments for reproduction. Its streamlined body, powerful flippers, specialized shell, and distinctive feeding adaptations make it one of the most recognizable members of the sea turtle family.
Green sea turtles belong to the family Cheloniidae within the order Testudines. Unlike terrestrial tortoises and many freshwater turtles, they spend almost their entire lives in marine environments, returning to beaches mainly to reproduce. Their development involves several distinct stages, beginning with eggs buried in coastal sand and continuing through oceanic juvenile habitats before many individuals establish feeding grounds in shallow coastal waters.
The genus is particularly important in marine ecology because adult green turtles influence seagrass ecosystems, contribute to nutrient movement between marine and terrestrial environments, and participate in complex oceanic food webs. However, habitat degradation, fisheries interactions, pollution, climate change, and other human pressures threaten populations in many parts of their range.
Understanding Chelonia provides valuable insight into marine reptile evolution, specialized anatomy, migration, reproduction, and the conservation of ocean ecosystems.
What Is Chelonia?
Chelonia is a genus of marine reptiles belonging to the family Cheloniidae. Its only living representative is the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), a widely distributed species found in tropical and subtropical oceans. Although the name Chelonia is sometimes used informally when discussing green sea turtles, it is important to distinguish the genus from the species itself.
Green sea turtles are members of the order Testudines, which includes all living turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. They belong to the marine turtle family Cheloniidae, a group characterized by adaptations for swimming in ocean environments. Their closest living relatives include other hard-shelled sea turtles, such as loggerheads, hawksbills, and ridleys.
Unlike terrestrial turtles, green sea turtles possess a flattened, streamlined body that reduces resistance while moving through water. Their forelimbs have evolved into powerful flippers, enabling sustained swimming and long-distance migration. The hindlimbs assist with steering and maneuvering, particularly during movement near the seabed and nesting activities.
The common name "green sea turtle" does not refer to the colour of its outer shell. Instead, it comes from the greenish colour of the fat and connective tissues beneath the shell, which is associated with its diet and body chemistry. The carapace itself generally displays olive, brown, grey, or patterned tones.
Green sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles. They must regularly surface to obtain oxygen, even though they spend most of their lives underwater. Their ability to remain submerged for extended periods depends on activity level, temperature, and physiological conditions.
These animals are also known for their complex life history. Hatchlings emerge from buried eggs, move toward the ocean, and enter offshore developmental habitats. As they grow, many juveniles migrate toward coastal feeding grounds, where they eventually reach maturity.
Origin and Evolutionary History of Chelonia
The evolutionary history of sea turtles is part of the broader development of marine reptiles from terrestrial ancestors. Turtles originated from land-dwelling vertebrates, and their ancestors gradually acquired anatomical modifications that allowed certain lineages to exploit aquatic environments.
The turtle lineage is ancient, with recognizable early turtles appearing during the Triassic Period. However, modern sea turtles belong to a more specialized evolutionary branch that developed later. Their ancestors gradually evolved streamlined bodies, paddle-like limbs, and other characteristics associated with efficient marine locomotion.
Sea turtles belong to the superfamily Chelonioidea, which includes the living families Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae. The former contains hard-shelled sea turtles, including the green sea turtle, while the latter contains the leatherback turtle. These lineages share a marine evolutionary history but differ significantly in shell structure and other anatomical characteristics.
The genus Chelonia is associated with the evolution of hard-shelled marine turtles. Its living species, Chelonia mydas, represents a specialized marine lineage adapted to feeding in shallow coastal environments during important stages of its life.
Evolutionary relationships among living sea turtles are reconstructed using anatomical comparisons, fossil evidence, and molecular data. These approaches help scientists understand how different marine turtle groups diverged and developed their characteristic adaptations.
The green sea turtle did not evolve directly from any currently living sea turtle species. Instead, it shares ancestral relationships with other members of Cheloniidae. Its present-day characteristics reflect a long evolutionary process involving changes in locomotion, feeding, sensory systems, reproduction, and habitat use.
Geological Timeline and Fossil Record of Sea Turtles
The fossil record provides evidence of the long evolutionary history of turtles and their transition into marine environments. Fossil discoveries show that several ancient turtle lineages developed aquatic adaptations millions of years before modern sea turtle species appeared.
The earliest widely recognized turtles lived during the Late Triassic, approximately 230 million years ago. These early forms were not modern sea turtles, but they demonstrate the antiquity of the broader turtle lineage. Over subsequent geological periods, different groups developed adaptations for freshwater, coastal, and fully marine environments.
Marine turtle fossils become particularly informative during the Cretaceous Period. Several extinct groups possessed streamlined bodies and paddle-like limbs, indicating that marine specialization had already become well established. Fossils such as Archelon demonstrate the remarkable size and diversity achieved by prehistoric marine turtles.
The Cretaceous marine turtle fauna included both extinct evolutionary branches and lineages related to modern sea turtles. Many ancient forms differed from living species in skull structure, shell proportions, limb anatomy, and feeding adaptations.
The fossil record also contains members of the broader cheloniid lineage. These remains help scientists reconstruct the diversification of hard-shelled marine turtles and investigate the evolutionary history of groups related to modern green sea turtles.
However, the fossil history of the genus Chelonia itself is less straightforward than the broader record of marine turtles. Not every fossil hard-shelled sea turtle can be confidently assigned to this living genus. Fossil classification depends on diagnostic anatomical features, and many specimens preserve only incomplete portions of the skeleton.
Modern green sea turtles should therefore be understood as surviving representatives of a much older marine turtle lineage, rather than as unchanged copies of prehistoric species.
Defining Characteristics and Unique Biological Features of Chelonia
Green sea turtles possess several distinctive characteristics that separate them from terrestrial and freshwater turtles. Their bodies are adapted primarily for aquatic movement, long-distance migration, and underwater feeding.
Their most recognizable feature is a streamlined body enclosed by a hard shell. The upper shell, known as the carapace, is generally oval and relatively smooth. The lower shell, called the plastron, protects the ventral region. Unlike many land-dwelling turtles, the shell is flattened to reduce hydrodynamic resistance.
The limbs are modified into broad, paddle-shaped flippers. The foreflippers provide most of the propulsion during swimming, while the hind flippers assist with steering and stability. These structures allow green sea turtles to travel efficiently through open water and navigate coastal feeding habitats.
A green sea turtle has a relatively small head compared with its body size. Its mouth contains a strong, horny beak rather than teeth. The shape and edges of the beak are adapted to its predominantly herbivorous adult diet.
Another important characteristic is its ability to remain underwater for extended periods. Green sea turtles use their lungs to breathe air, but their diving physiology allows them to reduce oxygen consumption during resting periods and prolonged submersion.
Their life cycle also involves distinct habitat transitions. Hatchlings initially enter offshore waters, while older juveniles and adults frequently occupy coastal feeding areas. Mature females return to suitable beaches to deposit eggs.
Green sea turtles are generally ectothermic, meaning their body temperature depends largely on environmental conditions. Water temperature influences metabolism, activity, growth, and reproductive processes.
Together, these characteristics demonstrate how the species has become specialized for marine life while retaining the fundamental biological organization of reptiles.
External Anatomy and Body Organization
The external body of a green sea turtle is organized into a compact head, a protective shell, and four specialized flippers. Its overall shape is designed to reduce drag and support efficient movement through seawater.
The head contains the eyes, nostrils, mouth, and sensory structures. The eyes are positioned laterally, providing a broad field of vision. Two external nostrils are located near the front of the snout and allow the turtle to breathe when it reaches the water surface. The mouth is equipped with a hard keratinous beak. Unlike mammals, green sea turtles do not possess teeth. Their upper and lower jaws form cutting and gripping surfaces suitable for handling seagrasses and algae.
The carapace forms the upper portion of the shell and protects the back and internal organs. Its surface is usually covered by large keratinized scutes arranged in recognizable patterns. The plastron forms the lower protective surface. The shell is connected to the underlying skeleton and is an integral part of the turtle's body rather than a detachable external covering.
The foreflippers are long, powerful, and relatively narrow compared with the broad limbs of terrestrial turtles. Their shape produces strong forward thrust during swimming. The hind flippers are shorter and function mainly in steering, stabilization, and digging nesting chambers on beaches.
The tail is generally more prominent in adult males than females. Male green sea turtles possess a longer tail that extends beyond the rear edge of the shell, helping distinguish the sexes in mature individuals. Skin covers the exposed head, neck, and flippers. It contains scales and protective tissues that reduce damage during movement through marine environments.
Shell Structure and Skeletal Adaptations
The shell is one of the defining anatomical features of turtles. In green sea turtles, it provides structural support and protection while maintaining a shape suitable for aquatic locomotion.
The upper portion, or carapace, consists of modified skeletal elements associated with the vertebral column and ribs. These structures are integrated into the shell framework. The lower portion, known as the plastron, consists of several bony elements that protect the underside of the body.
The shell is covered by keratinized scutes in green sea turtles. These scutes form a protective external layer, although the number and arrangement of scutes are characteristic features that help distinguish different sea turtle species.
Unlike the shells of many terrestrial turtles, the green sea turtle's carapace is relatively smooth and streamlined. This shape reduces resistance during swimming and supports movement through open water.
The internal skeleton also contains important adaptations. The vertebral column supports the body, while the ribs are incorporated into the shell structure. The shoulder and pelvic girdles are positioned within the rib cage, an unusual arrangement among vertebrates.
The forelimbs and hindlimbs contain elongated bones and joints adapted for flipper movement. Their skeletal organization supports powerful strokes rather than the weight-bearing function found in terrestrial turtles.
Muscles attached to the limb bones generate the force required for swimming. The foreflippers produce most of the forward propulsion, while the hind flippers help control direction and body stability. The shell is therefore both a protective structure and an important component of the species' locomotor system.
Feeding Mechanisms and Digestive System
Green sea turtles have feeding adaptations associated with a predominantly herbivorous adult diet. Their digestive system processes plant material, especially seagrasses and marine algae, although feeding habits can vary with age and habitat.
The mouth contains a strong keratinous beak with cutting edges that help remove vegetation from the substrate. The jaws are not equipped with true teeth. Instead, their hardened surfaces allow the animal to grasp, tear, and manipulate food.
Adult green sea turtles frequently graze on seagrass beds. They crop leaves and other plant tissues using coordinated movements of the head and jaws. Some populations also consume different types of algae, depending on the availability of food in their feeding habitats.
The digestive tract includes the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and associated organs such as the liver and pancreas. Food passes through the esophagus into the stomach, where digestion begins through mechanical and chemical processes.
The intestines are important for nutrient absorption. Microbial communities in the digestive tract help break down plant material, including components that are difficult to digest. This adaptation supports the use of fibrous vegetation as a major food source.
Juvenile green sea turtles often have more varied diets than adults. Depending on their developmental stage and habitat, they may consume animal material, small invertebrates, and other available food items. Their feeding ecology generally shifts toward greater herbivory as they mature.
Food availability influences growth, body condition, and reproductive performance. Healthy seagrass meadows and productive coastal habitats are therefore important for supporting green sea turtle populations.
Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Green sea turtles breathe air using well-developed lungs. Although they spend much of their lives underwater, they must periodically reach the surface to replenish oxygen.
The respiratory system includes the nostrils, nasal passages, glottis, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. During surfacing, the turtle extends its head above the water and exchanges air through the nostrils. Oxygen enters the lungs, where gas exchange occurs across respiratory surfaces.
Unlike fish, sea turtles cannot extract sufficient oxygen directly from water using gills. Their diving ability depends on storing oxygen in the lungs, blood, and muscles and regulating its use during submersion.
The duration of a dive varies considerably. Resting turtles in suitable conditions may remain underwater much longer than active individuals. Water temperature, activity, stress, and physiological state influence oxygen consumption.
The circulatory system transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Like other reptiles, green sea turtles possess a heart with two atria and a ventricle that is incompletely divided internally. This arrangement supports pulmonary and systemic circulation.
Deoxygenated blood travels toward the lungs, where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is absorbed. Oxygenated blood then returns to the heart and is distributed to the body's tissues.
During diving, sea turtles can adjust blood flow to prioritize essential organs and reduce oxygen consumption in less immediately critical tissues. This physiological response helps extend underwater endurance.
Their ability to regulate circulation and oxygen use is particularly important during migration, feeding, resting, and other activities performed beneath the surface.
Nervous System and Sensory Adaptations
The nervous system of a green sea turtle coordinates movement, feeding, navigation, environmental awareness, and reproductive behaviour. It consists of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves distributed throughout the body.
The brain processes information received from sensory organs and coordinates muscular activity. The spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, supporting coordinated swimming and movement.
Vision is important for detecting objects, recognizing habitat features, and locating food. Green sea turtles have eyes adapted for underwater vision, although their visual performance changes when moving between water and air because light behaves differently in these environments.
Their sense of smell also contributes to environmental awareness. Chemical cues in seawater can help turtles identify food-related signals and recognize aspects of their surroundings.
Hearing is less specialized for airborne sound than in mammals, but sea turtles can detect vibrations and low-frequency sounds transmitted through water. These signals may contribute to awareness of nearby movement and environmental disturbances.
Green sea turtles also possess a strong ability to navigate over long distances. Research indicates that Earth's magnetic field provides important directional and positional information. Magnetic cues may help individuals maintain migratory routes and locate important geographic regions.
The ability to recognize environmental patterns is particularly valuable during reproduction. Females often return to nesting regions associated with their developmental or ancestral populations, although the precise mechanisms involved in natal homing are complex. Together, sensory and nervous adaptations help green sea turtles interact with their surroundings across extensive marine habitats.
Reproduction, Nesting, and Life Cycle
Green sea turtles reproduce sexually, with males and females mating in marine environments. Mature individuals generally return to breeding regions where courtship and mating occur before females migrate toward suitable nesting beaches.
Females usually reproduce at intervals of several years rather than nesting every year. During a nesting season, an individual may deposit multiple clutches of eggs, with the number and timing varying among populations and environmental conditions.
Nesting generally takes place on sandy beaches. A female emerges from the water, moves above the high-tide line, and uses her hind flippers to excavate a body pit and an egg chamber. She then deposits a clutch of soft-shelled eggs and covers them with sand before returning to the sea.
Incubation takes place within the buried nest. Temperature plays an important role in embryonic development and influences the sex of hatchlings. Warmer incubation conditions generally produce more females, whereas cooler conditions tend to produce more males.
After development, hatchlings emerge from the nest, often during darkness, and move toward the ocean. They use visual cues, the brightness of the seaward horizon, and other environmental signals to orient themselves toward the water.
The early oceanic stage is sometimes described as the "lost years" because young turtles spend considerable time in offshore habitats that are difficult for researchers to monitor. During this period, they may associate with floating vegetation and oceanic currents.
As they grow, juveniles often move toward coastal feeding habitats. Their diet and behaviour change during development, and they gradually acquire the characteristics of older juvenile and adult turtles.
Sexual maturity may take several decades, depending on environmental conditions and population characteristics. Once mature, females return to nesting areas to reproduce, continuing the life cycle.
Green sea turtles do not provide parental care after depositing their eggs. Hatchlings must survive independently, facing natural predators, environmental challenges, and human-related threats.
Taxonomic Classification and Evolutionary Relationships
Green sea turtles belong to the reptilian order Testudines. Their classification places them among hard-shelled marine turtles, a group that shares several important anatomical and evolutionary characteristics.
The scientific classification of the green sea turtle is:
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Testudines |
| Suborder | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily | Chelonioidea |
| Family | Cheloniidae |
| Genus | Chelonia |
| Species | Chelonia mydas |
The genus Chelonia contains one living species, Chelonia mydas. The species name identifies the green sea turtle, while the genus name indicates its position within the broader classification of marine turtles.
Within Chelonioidea, two living families are generally recognized: Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae. Cheloniidae contains hard-shelled sea turtles, including green, loggerhead, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, and flatback turtles. Dermochelyidae contains the leatherback turtle, which has a different shell structure.
Green sea turtles belong to Cheloniidae and are more closely related to other members of this family than to leatherback turtles. Their evolutionary relationships have been investigated using skeletal anatomy, fossil comparisons, and molecular studies.
The suborder Cryptodira includes turtles that retract their heads into the shell through a vertical or curved movement of the neck. This classification reflects important differences in cervical anatomy and head-retraction mechanisms among turtle lineages.
Taxonomic classification provides a framework for identifying the green sea turtle and understanding its relationships with other reptiles. It also helps researchers compare populations, study evolutionary history, and develop conservation strategies.
Habitat, Geographic Distribution, and Migration
Green sea turtles occur in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Their distribution extends across many coastal regions and island systems, although local population sizes and habitat use vary geographically.
They occupy a range of marine environments during different stages of life. Hatchlings and young juveniles often enter offshore oceanic habitats, where currents and floating vegetation may influence their distribution.
Older juveniles and adults commonly inhabit shallow coastal waters. Important feeding habitats include seagrass meadows, algal beds, lagoons, bays, and protected coastal areas. These environments provide food and suitable conditions for growth.
Nesting generally takes place on sandy tropical and subtropical beaches. Suitable nesting sites require appropriate sand conditions, adequate space above the high-tide line, and environmental characteristics that support egg development.
Green sea turtles are capable of long-distance migrations between feeding grounds and reproductive areas. Some individuals travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres between these habitats.
Migration routes may cross national boundaries and international waters. As a result, the conservation of a single population can depend on habitat protection and fisheries management across several countries.
Ocean currents, water temperature, food availability, and magnetic information may influence movement patterns. Individual turtles can show strong attachment to particular feeding regions while travelling considerable distances during reproductive migrations.
The combination of offshore developmental habitats, coastal feeding grounds, and nesting beaches makes green sea turtle conservation dependent on connected marine and terrestrial environments.
Diet, Feeding Ecology, and Ecological Importance
Green sea turtles are especially important because adult individuals are predominantly herbivorous marine grazers. Their feeding activity can influence the structure and productivity of seagrass ecosystems.
Seagrass meadows provide food and habitat for many marine organisms. When green sea turtles graze on these plants, they can influence leaf growth, vegetation structure, and nutrient cycling. Moderate grazing may encourage the production of younger leaves and help maintain productive feeding grounds.
Their feeding behaviour also affects the distribution of nutrients within coastal ecosystems. Nutrients consumed in one location can be transported to another through movement, digestion, and waste production.
Green sea turtles are not exclusively herbivorous throughout their entire development. Young individuals may consume a broader range of foods, including small invertebrates and other animal material. Dietary composition changes with age, habitat, and food availability.
Their ecological influence extends beyond seagrass meadows. Eggs and hatchlings contribute nutrients to beach ecosystems, while individuals that die naturally can provide resources for scavengers and decomposers.
Green sea turtles also form part of marine food webs. Eggs and hatchlings are consumed by several terrestrial and marine predators, while larger individuals may occasionally be attacked by sharks and other large predators.
Healthy populations therefore contribute to ecological processes across beaches, coastal waters, and offshore environments. Their presence can also indicate the condition of important marine habitats.
Behavior, Adaptations, and Survival Strategies
Green sea turtles display a range of behaviours that support survival in marine environments. Their daily activities include swimming, feeding, resting, migration, social interactions, and reproductive movement.
Swimming is primarily powered by coordinated strokes of the foreflippers. Their streamlined body and relatively smooth shell reduce drag, allowing efficient movement through water. The hind flippers help maintain direction and stability. Green sea turtles frequently rest underwater, particularly in protected areas such as rocky crevices, coral structures, and beneath ledges. They can remain submerged for extended periods while resting because their metabolic demand is relatively low.
Thermoregulation is another important aspect of their behaviour. As ectothermic animals, green sea turtles depend on environmental heat to regulate body temperature. They may move between habitats with different temperatures or adjust their activity according to local conditions. Navigation is particularly important during migration. Magnetic information, environmental cues, and learned geographic associations may contribute to their ability to travel between distant feeding and nesting sites.
Their shell provides protection against many physical threats, although it cannot prevent all predator attacks or human-related injuries. Powerful flippers allow rapid movement when threatened, while their aquatic lifestyle provides access to habitats that are difficult for many terrestrial predators to reach.
Hatchlings use a different set of survival strategies. Their movement toward the sea is influenced by visual orientation cues, and their rapid entry into the water reduces the time spent exposed to terrestrial predators. These behavioural and physiological adaptations work together to support survival throughout a complex life cycle involving several habitats and environmental conditions.
Conservation Status, Threats, and Human Interactions
Green sea turtles face numerous threats throughout their life cycle. Their long migrations, dependence on coastal nesting beaches, and use of productive marine feeding grounds expose them to pressures from both land-based and ocean-based activities.
The species is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, although conservation assessments and population trends can vary among regional populations. Some populations have shown recovery following protection measures, while others continue to experience serious declines.
One major threat is the accidental capture of turtles in fishing equipment. Individuals may become trapped in nets, longlines, and other gear, leading to injury or drowning. Fisheries bycatch remains a significant conservation concern in many regions.
Coastal development can also damage nesting habitats. Construction, artificial lighting, beach modification, and human disturbance may interfere with nesting behaviour and hatchling orientation. Artificial light can disorient hatchlings, causing them to move away from the ocean. Marine pollution creates additional risks. Plastic bags and other debris may be mistaken for food, while discarded fishing gear can entangle turtles. Ingestion and entanglement can result in serious injuries or death.
Climate change affects nesting beaches and marine habitats. Rising temperatures influence hatchling sex ratios because sex determination depends on incubation temperature. Increasing sea levels, coastal erosion, and stronger storms can also reduce the availability of suitable nesting areas.
Green sea turtles are protected through various national laws and international conservation agreements. Important measures include protecting nesting beaches, reducing fisheries bycatch, monitoring populations, restoring seagrass habitats, and controlling marine pollution.
Community-based conservation is particularly valuable. Local communities can help protect nesting sites, reduce artificial lighting, report injured animals, and support responsible coastal management. International cooperation is essential because green sea turtles migrate across national borders. Effective protection requires coordination among countries that share feeding areas, migration corridors, and nesting populations.
Human interactions with green sea turtles have historically included hunting for meat, eggs, and shell products. Although legal protections have reduced some forms of exploitation, illegal harvesting and habitat disturbance continue in certain regions. Long-term conservation depends on protecting the complete life cycle rather than focusing exclusively on nesting beaches or adult feeding habitats.
Conclusion
Chelonia mydas, the living representative of the genus Chelonia, is a remarkable marine reptile whose anatomy, behaviour, and life history reflect extensive adaptation to ocean environments. Its streamlined body, powerful flippers, specialized shell, and herbivorous adult feeding habits distinguish it among living turtles.
The species also provides valuable insight into the evolutionary history of marine reptiles. Its relationship with other members of Cheloniidae helps researchers understand the diversification of hard-shelled sea turtles and the development of specialized marine adaptations.
Beyond its evolutionary importance, the green sea turtle plays a meaningful role in coastal ecosystems. Its grazing activity influences seagrass communities, while its movement between feeding grounds and nesting beaches contributes to nutrient transfer across marine and terrestrial environments.
Despite its ecological value, the species faces continuing pressure from fisheries, coastal development, pollution, and climate change. Protecting its habitats, migration routes, and reproductive sites is essential for maintaining healthy populations.
The study of Chelonia therefore connects zoology, evolutionary biology, marine ecology, and wildlife conservation, making the green sea turtle an important subject for understanding both the diversity of reptiles and the health of ocean ecosystems.
Not exactly. Chelonia is the scientific genus name, while Chelonia mydas is the scientific name of the green sea turtle. The green sea turtle is the only living species currently recognized in this genus.
The name comes from the greenish colour of its body fat and connective tissues, rather than its outer shell. Its carapace is generally olive, brown, grey, or patterned.
Adult green sea turtles primarily eat seagrasses and marine algae. Younger individuals often have a more varied diet that may include small invertebrates and other animal material.
Green sea turtles inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They use offshore waters, shallow coastal habitats, seagrass meadows, lagoons, and sandy beaches during different stages of their lives.
Green sea turtles reproduce sexually and lay eggs on sandy beaches. Females dig nests in the sand, deposit their eggs, and cover them before returning to the ocean. Hatchlings emerge after incubation and make their way toward the sea.