Green Turtles Have Green Flesh and Other Interesting Facts About This Wonderful Sea Turtle

How to differentiate Green Turtles from Hawksbill Turtles?

Recognise their face

Their faces are the easiest way to differentiate Green Turtles from Hawksbill Turtles: Green Turtles have a much rounder face and do not have the pronounced beak that characterises Hawksbill Turtles.

Recognise their carapace

Their colour does not easily tell them apart. The Green Turtle is called this way because of the colour of its flesh, but its shell can be black, brown or green.

The edge of their carapace, however, can help tell them apart: Green Turtles have a smooth edge, while the Hawksbill Turtle has a more serrated, saw-like edge.

What do Green Turtles eat?

Young Green Turtles are mainly carnivorous, consuming small invertebrates and fish eggs. As they grow, they become vegetarian and mostly feed on seagrass. It is believed that their diet is what gives their flesh its greenish colour.

Their herbivorous diet distinguishes this species from other sea turtles. Hawksbills usually hang out on coral reefs, where they feed mostly on sponges. Leatherback Turtles are long-distance travellers; being pelagic, they feed mainly on jellyfish and other soft-bodied marine organisms.

Where can you see Green Turtles?

The Green Turtle is present in tropical and temperate waters of all oceans, but can be rare in some regions. It prefers shallow, eelgrass-rich waters, with eelgrass being an aquatic flowering plant that grows in sandy coastal areas.

In the Andaman Sea, Green Turtles can occasionally be encountered while diving, particularly around shallow reef and coastal habitats. You can discover more about the incredible marine life of Thailand and the Andaman Sea on our website.

Can Green Turtles breathe underwater?

Despite spending their whole lives in the ocean, like all other reptiles, sea turtles need air to breathe. However, they can hold their breath for up to five hours, and it is not uncommon to see a turtle sleeping underwater during this time.

Can you tell male and female Green Turtles apart?

It is difficult to tell males from females apart when they are young, but as they mature, the male’s tail develops and becomes much bigger than the female’s.

This photo shows a friendly adult male Green Turtle who lives in and is often sighted in the Similan Islands.

While females return to the beach to lay eggs, male Green Sea Turtles never go back onto land.

What do we know about Green Turtle reproduction?

The Green Turtle reaches sexual maturity after 20 to 50 years!

Males can mate every year, but females only mate every three to four years.

When ready, Green Turtle females usually mate with several males before heading to their birthplace to lay up to 200 eggs on a quiet night. Mama Green Turtle will return to the area where she was born to nest, no matter how far away it is, but before coming out of the water, the place must be quiet and unlit.

Babies hatch after a six- to seven-week incubation period and have to fend for themselves without ever meeting their parents. Only one in a thousand will reach adulthood.

Green Turtle fun facts

3 Green Turtle fun facts for the road!

1 – The sex of the turtle comes from the temperature of the nest. Warmer nests will produce more female hatchlings, while colder nests will produce more males!

2 – Green Turtles can detect the Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists have demonstrated in laboratory-generated magnetic fields that sea turtles have the ability to detect the Earth’s magnetic field and use it as an orientation cue.

3 – Green Turtles can cry! Crying does not happen because they are sad, but helps them clear their eyes of salt build-ups.

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