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Green turtle
Chelonia mydas
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Code
Summary
Saltwater. Marine reptiles. They have brown to dark brown shells with
occasional shades of olive that are generally unmarked, but on occasion,
have mottled or wave-like pattern. Shell plates lie side by side (not
over-lapping). The have only two plates between the eyes. The first of
their four costal plates does not touch the nuchal.
To be confused with
- Hawksbill turtle Erethmochelys imbricata (two pair plates between the eyes)
- Loggerheads and Ridley.
Characteristics
Size: 30 to 120 cm.
Colour: Shells are in fact olive to black.
Shape: Flattened body is covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers.
Habitat environment and ecology
The green sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and hatching beaches. Often near coral reefs.
Distribution range
St. Eustatius. BES-eilanden.
Author
[Niels Schrieken, march 2015]
Literature
- Humann, Paul, and N. Deloach. "c. Reef fish identification." (2002).
Commentaar
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