Green Sea Turtle – iSimangaliso Nesting Guide The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia
mydas) is one of the world’s best-known sea turtle
species, recognised for its smooth oval carapace and the
single pair of scales in front of the eyes. Green turtles
are found in warm oceans globally and are strongly
associated with shallow coastal habitats such as seagrass
beds and protected bays. For travelers researching turtle
nesting South Africa, it is useful to understand how
Green turtles compare to the main nesting turtles of the iSimangaliso
Wetland Park coastline, and how different sea turtle
species use feeding grounds, migration routes and nesting
beaches across the Western Indian Ocean. Species Facts Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas High-Authority SummaryGreen turtles are an iconic sea turtle species with a global distribution and a strong dependence on healthy coastal habitats such as seagrass beds. For people researching iSimangaliso turtle tours and St Lucia turtle tours, Green turtles provide an important reference species for understanding sea turtle biology, even though the main nesting species monitored on the iSimangaliso coastline are usually Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles. DescriptionDescription: Green turtles are easily distinguished from other sea turtles because they have a single pair of prefrontal scales (scales in front of its eyes), rather than two pairs as found on other sea turtles. Head is small and blunt with a serrated jaw. Carapace is bony without ridges and has large, non-overlapping, scutes (scales) present with only 4 lateral scutes. The Green turtles body is nearly oval and is more depressed (flattened) compared to Pacific green turtles. All flippers have 1 visible claw. The carapace color varies from pale to very dark green and plain to very brilliant yellow, brown and green tones with radiating stripes. The plastron varies from white, dirty white or yellowish in the Atlantic populations to dark grey-bluish-green in the Pacific populations. Green turtles hatchlings are dark-brown or nearly black with a white underneath and white flipper margins. For comparison, the Pacific green turtle (aka Black Sea Turtle) has a body that is strongly elevated or vaulted and looks less round in a frontal view than other green sea turtles. The color is where you see the biggest difference with Pacific greens having a dark grey to black carapace and the hatchlings are a dark-brown or black with narrow white border with white underneath. SizeSize: Adult Green turtles are 3.5 to 4 feet in carapace length (76-91 cm). The green turtle is the largest of the Cheloniidae family. The largest green turtle ever found was 5 feet (152 cm) in length and 871 pounds (395 kg). WeightWeight: Adult Green turtles weigh between 300 to 400 pounds (136-180 kg). DietDiet: The diet of the Green turtle changes significantly during its life. When less than 8 to 10 inches in length eat worms, young crustaceans, aquatic insects, grasses and algae. Once green turtles reach 8 to 10 inches in length, they mostly eat sea grass and algae, the only sea turtle that is strictly herbivorous as an adult. Their jaws are finely serrated which aids them in tearing vegetation. HabitatHabitat: Mainly stay near the coastline and around islands and live in bays and protected shores, especially in areas with seagrass beds. Rarely are they observed in the open ocean. NestingNesting: Green turtles nest at intervals of 2, 3, or more years, with wide year-to-year fluctuations in numbers of nesting females. Nests between 3 to 5 times per season. Lays an average of 115 eggs in each nest, with the eggs incubating for about 60 days. RangeRange: Green turtles are found in all temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. StatusStatus: U.S. - Listed as Endangered (in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future) under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act. International - Listed as Endangered (facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Threats to SurvivalThreats to Survival: The greatest threat is from the commercial harvest for eggs and food. Other green turtle parts are used for leather and small turtles are sometimes stuffed for curios. Incidental catch in commercial shrimp trawling is an increasing source of mortality. Population EstimatePopulation Estimate*: 88,520 nesting female Green turtles. Turtle Nesting in iSimangaliso Wetland ParkThe protected beaches of iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the Maputaland coast are among South Africa’s most important sea turtle nesting areas. Conservation monitoring focuses on nesting activity along remote beaches, with strict access control and guidelines that reduce disturbance to nesting turtles. If you are researching turtle nesting South Africa, the iSimangaliso coastline is the key region to understand, especially during the summer nesting season. Turtle Tours from St LuciaSt Lucia turtle tours are typically conducted as guided night turtle tours into the protected coastal sections of iSimangaliso. Visitors may experience driving along remote beach tracks at night, scanning for fresh turtle tracks in the sand and, when conditions allow, observing nesting activity while following strict conservation rules designed to protect turtles and their nesting beaches. Best Time to See Turtles October – December Where These Turtles Nest (South Africa Region) Maputaland Coast Frequently Asked Questions Where can you see turtles in South Africa? Planning a Turtle Tour in St Lucia? Send your dates for availability confirmation. |