Endangered Species Guide : Reptiles : Animal Planet

Reptiles

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GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas)

Weighing between 300 and 350 pounds, the green sea turtle is the largest of the world's sea turtles. They occur globally in tropical and subtropical waters, and females nest on the beaches of at least 80 countries. The green sea turtle is threatened worldwide by overexploitation of eggs and adults. They are also often taken as bycatch in fishing operations and threatened in some parts of their range by a disease that causes tumors.

NEXT REPTILE: Komodo Dragon »

IUCN Status: Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Overexploitation of eggs and adults; incidental capture in fishing gear
Habitat: Warm, open tropical and subtropical ocean
Location: Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans
Diet: Algae and sea grass

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