The green sea turtle is a gentle ocean giant, easily recognized by its smooth shell and large flippers. These turtles are named not for the color of their shell but for the green hue of their body fat, a result of their herbivorous diet. They are primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters, often near seagrass beds where they graze.
Green sea turtles spend most of their lives in water, only coming ashore to lay eggs. Their aquatic life is a delicate balance of foraging, migration, and avoiding predators like sharks. These turtles are vital to marine ecosystems, helping maintain healthy seagrass beds by grazing. Sadly, they are endangered due to habitat loss, bycatch in fishing nets, and pollution, making conservation efforts crucial to their survival.