Green sea turtles spend most of their time in warmer water, but young turtles
sometimes spend their summers eating and growing in New England waters.

Size  Average 300-350 pounds and up to 4 feet long

Diet  Adult green sea turtles eat mostly plant matter, but younger turtles also
eat squids, crabs and other small sea creatures.

Lifespan  Possibly 100 years or more

Range  Tropical to temperate waters worldwide

Habitat  Adult green sea turtles prefer coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves,
while hatchlings and juveniles live farther from shore.

Predators  Foxes, weasels, cats, dogs, raccoons, crabs and more eat eggs and
hatchlings. Sharks and other large fishes prey on juveniles and adults.

Relatives  There are seven species of sea turtles, including the green, loggerhead,
Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley, hawksbill, flat back and leatherback.

Family life  Females bury clutches of approximately 100 eggs on tropical or subtropical beaches. Once the eggs are buried, the females return to the sea. The eggs hatch after several months, and the hatchlings race for the sea before they can be eaten by crabs or sea gulls. It can take more than 20 years for sea turtles to reach breeding age.

Conservation status  Endangered  Green sea turtles are endangered, which means they are facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. They are threatened by accidental catch, habitat loss and water pollution.

Explore other profiles   Check out lionfish, sand tiger sharks and American lobsters.