Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are among the most remarkable creatures of the marine world. Weighing up to 700 pounds (315 kg) and measuring over 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length, these turtles have roamed the Earth's oceans for more than 100 million years, surviving mass extinctions and significant environmental shifts.
Named for the greenish hue of their body fat, green sea turtles are primarily herbivorous, feeding on seagrasses and algae. This grazing helps maintain healthy seagrass beds, which in turn support a diverse array of marine life. These turtles are known for their incredible migratory behavior, traveling thousands of miles between feeding areas and nesting beaches. Remarkably, females return to the same beaches where they were hatched, guided by an internal compass aligned with the Earth's magnetic field.
Despite their resilience, green sea turtles are listed as endangered due to threats like habitat loss, poaching, entanglement in fishing gear, and plastic pollution. Conservation programs, including protected nesting sites and marine sanctuaries, have been instrumental in stabilizing populations in certain regions.