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Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

The green sea turtle is one of the largest species of sea turtles, with adults weighing up to 700 pounds (315 kg) and measuring over 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length. These ancient creatures have existed for over 100 million years, surviving mass extinctions and countless environmental changes. Named for the greenish color of their fat, not their shell, green sea turtles are herbivores, feeding primarily on seagrass and algae. This diet plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, as their grazing helps keep seagrass beds productive.

Green sea turtles are highly migratory, traveling thousands of miles between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Females return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, often after navigating across entire oceans. This remarkable homing ability is believed to be guided by the Earth's magnetic field.

Unfortunately, green sea turtles face numerous threats, including poaching, plastic pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction. Conservation programs, such as protected nesting sites and rescue centers, have been instrumental in increasing their populations in some areas.