The green sea turtle is a large, heavy-set turtle with a very wide and very smooth outer shell. Their habitat is usually tropical and subtropical coastal regions and waters. They can sometimes be observed leaving the sea in hotter climates to sunbathe on beaches.

The green sea turtle gets its name from the color of its skin rather than its shell. It has a green tinge to its skin whereas its shell is a beige-brown shade although this depends on habitat. There are believed to be two separate species of this creature: the Atlantic green turtle found in Europe and North American waters and the East Pacific green turtle found in the waters from Chile to Alaska.

The green sea turtle is considered among the largest on the planet. They can weigh up to 700 pounds (317.5 kg) and they have a proportionally small head like others in their species. Their head is non-retractable and extends from their large heart-shaped shell which can measure up to 5 feet (1.5 m). The only obvious difference between males and females is that males are very slightly longer and sometimes have a longer tail. They all have paddle like flippers which give them a graceful movement when they swim.

Unlike other sea turtles, the green sea turtle is herbivorous when it reaches adulthood. It lives solely off sea grasses and algae although the young can be seen to eat jellyfish and other invertebrate creatures.

Like other sea turtles, this species has a long migration period from their feeding sites to where they choose to nest. Nesting grounds are usually sandy beaches. Mating only occurs every two to four years and takes place in the shallow waters near the shore. The females lay their eggs in a pit which they dig in the sand and the clutch usually consists of between 100 and 200 eggs. The eggs take two months to hatch and the most dangerous experience of the sea turtles whole life is the short scamper from their birth place back to the sea as many predators are ready to swoop and capture them.

The green sea turtle is considered critically endangered but this unfortunately doesn’t stop people from hunting them for their meat and eggs.