We can see the green turtle in all the oceans of the world, where the waters are rich in aquatic plants. They are amazing water world creatures with which fallen in love can be amazingly quick.
Green turtle – fundamental characteristics
The green turtle is a sea turtle, the largest of the “Cheloniidae”. It weighs an average of 160 kg, but the largest specimens can reach 400 kg. It is also the fastest, it can swim up to 35 km / h. Young turtles are rather carnivorous and feed on fish eggs. In adulthood, it feeds mainly on algae and seagrass but also crustaceans and jellyfish.
The green turtle always returns to lay its eggs on the beach where it was born (or in the area). She checks if the beach is secure, if the edge of the water is not too far, then she digs with her 2 fins, a hole of about 40 cm. Be careful, at the slightest obstacle (root, stone, noise, or even light), out of fear, she may give up laying eggs and return to the ocean. She lays a hundred eggs, then covers them with sand and returns to the ocean. Incubation lasts about 10 weeks and it is the surrounding temperature that determines the sex.
Once the egg has hatched, the first moments of its life will be strewn with pitfalls. The journey to the sea can last 5 days, during which the newborns are at the mercy of all kinds of predators; birds, dogs, insects, crabs, and rats… but also men with their light can disorient them, because they move towards the luminosity of the waves. Once in the water, they fall prey to fish, squid, and octopus.
Adults are chased by sharks, marine crocodiles that are found off Australia, but also fishers and poaching because its flesh is very popular and its scales are sold at a high price.
Pollution is also an important factor of extermination; the plastic bag for example, very similar to jellyfish, kills many turtles.
The green turtle-like other sea turtles are an endangered species.
Where can we see the Green Turtle?
In all the oceans of the world, where the waters are rich in aquatic plants. Rather warm waters (around 20 degrees). The spawning grounds are many: Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Asia, Australia.
In Mayotte on N’Gouja beach, you can attend a spawning, but be careful, it is important to respect awfully specific rules and to follow the recommendations of marine biologists.