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Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Photo by AlbertKang
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Saw this bunch of Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas in Moal-Boal and Pescador Island, Cebu, Philippines. Mostly are medium-sized around 0.7-1.0 meters carapace size. Most people are confused why they are called Green Turtle when they are non green in colour. The common name comes from the usually green fat found beneath its carapace.

Green Turtles have a 'clean' habit. They like to keep themselves clean, by rubbing their carapace and head/body against corals (Pic#3 & Pic#4) and also rocks/rubbles. In some places like Sipadan Island, Malaysia, they can be seen to hang out at cleaning stations where there are cleaner fishes like Wrasses and Gobies feeding on the algae and parasites growing on their carapace and body.

Habitat:

Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Notes:

Chelonia mydas is listed as endangered by the IUCN and CITES and is protected from exploitation in most countries

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