Chelonia mydas (Green Turtle), is the most abundant sea turtle in the Galapagos archipelago, the name of the turtle is due to the color of the fat located under its shell. Its carapace is oval in shape with four pairs of costal scutes that are sometimes irregular. Carapace coloration of the green is somewhat variable in adults, but usually has colors ranging from pale green to dark green or yellow, occasionally including bright stripes. Its head is round, it measures approximately 15 cm. wide and is easily distinguished by having a pair of prefrontal scales (the scales located in front of its eyes), instead of two pairs like most sea turtles.
The green turtle's diet is thought to change drastically throughout its life. Juveniles are carnivorous, eating marine worms, crustaceans, and aquatic insects, as well as grasses and algae. Adults eat primarily seagrass and algae, with the green turtle being the only sea turtle that is essentially herbivorous as an adult. Of all the sea turtle species, the green turtle is believed to have the longest lifespan, reaching sexual maturity even later, between 20 and 50 years. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) classifies it as an Endangered species, which means that it has a high risk of disappearing in the near future. One of the most significant threats facing the green turtle is the intentional hunting of adults and the harvesting of their eggs from nesting beaches and foraging areas. Green turtle meat is considered an exotic delicacy, for this reason it is commercially exploited. Bycatch in marine fisheries, habitat degradation, and disease are other detrimental threats to this species.
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