The Delaware State

Anatomy:

• Appearance: They 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. 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. Hatchlings are dark-brown or nearly black with a white underneath and white flipper margins.

• Hatchling size: 0.85oz  

• Adult size: 240-420lbs. 3-4ft

Nesting:

• Nest every two years; 3-5 times per season; average of 115 eggs per nest; eggs incubate for 60 days

Fun Facts:

• During the night while sleeping and to protect themselves from potential predators, the adults wedge themselves under rocks below the surface and under ledges in reefs and coastal rocks. Many green sea turtles have been observed in returning to the same sleeping location night after night.

• Juvenile Green Turtles are carnivorous, but with age they become herbivorous

• Largest hard-shelled turtle

• Scientists believe their plant based diet is what gives them their green color

Location:

• Found in all temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.

Status:

• Endangered in U.S.

Population:

• 85,000-90,000 nesting females (estimate)

Threats:

• Commercial harvest for eggs, meat, and leather

• Incidental catch in commercial shrimping

Diet:

• Juvenile: Worms, young crustaceans, and aquatic insects

• Adulthood: Sea grass and algae