Green Turtle Photo © Stewart Forbes

Green Turtle Chelonia mydas

The Green Turtle is distinct from other marine turtle species by having a single pair of scales in front of the eyes and a serrated bottom jaw. They possess an oval shell (carapace), which varies in colour from olive to black with swirls and irregular patterns. The undershell (plastron) is pale yellow or orange in colour.

Green Turtle Photo © Toby Gibson

Green turtles suffer from over-harvesting in many areas around the world for both their meat and eggs. In addition, as with most marine turtle species, green turtles are accidentally caught as bycatch. Another threat to these turtles is the increase in fibrous tumours that can grow on any part of the turtle's body, inhibiting movement and sight and often leading to death.

The Green Turtle is classified as Endangered by IUCN. (See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Green Turtle).

Help Protect the Green Turtle and Other Wildlife in the Philippines

The World Land Trust's Reef & Mangrove Project in the Philippines protects the reefs the Green Turtle and other threatened wildlife species need. Please help protect this area by making a donation to the World Land Trust.

More Information about Green Turtles and Their Habitat

• Read more about WLT's work in the Philippines
• Find more information on the Green Turtle on ARKive: Images of life on Earth