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Reptile that inhabits tropical and subtropical waters
© National Museum of Qatar
Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
Common Name: Green Turtle
Dimensions: The largest of all hard-shelled sea turtles has a carapace length of 80 - 140 cm and weighs 68 - 190 kg, exceptionally up to 315 kg or even more. The tiny hatchlings are only around 5 cm long
Medium: model
Registration Number: RPN.2018.0125
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The turtle's hard shell consists of two parts—the curved upper part called the carapace and the flat lower part called the plastron. Both are made of bone and covered with keratin plates called scutes, arranged in specific patterns. Green Sea Turtles have a smooth, oval carapace that narrows towards the back, with four pairs of scutes at the edges and five central scutes. The plastron has notches for the flippers, which are paddle-shaped limbs. The turtle's head is small and blunt, featuring a strong beak that is short and rounded. It bears no teeth but has a coarsely serrated cutting rim in the lower jaw and opposing strong ridges inside the upper jaw. The species can be distinguished by having a single pair of scutes between the eyes and a single frontal claw on each flipper.
Green Turtles do not actually have green shells (the name refers to the greenish color of its fat), but instead, the carapace has color patterns that vary with age and between populations, ranging from pale to dark olive-brown or black, spotted or marbled with variegated blotches. The plastron is generally pale yellow or whitish, while the head and limbs are dark-colored, and each scale of the reptile's skin is fringed with yellow.
Habitat and Biology
Green Sea Turtles undergo habitat changes throughout their lives. Hatchlings start on beaches, then move to offshore areas. Juveniles spend about five years in the open ocean. Adults reside in shallow bays near seagrass beds, salt marshes, and coral reefs. They shift from carnivorous diets as young turtles to almost exclusively vegetarian diets of seagrasses and algae as adults, unique among sea turtles. Despite spending most of their time underwater, they need to regularly surface for air. They dive for five minutes and resurface to breathe in seconds. They can rest underwater for hours. Adult females migrate long distances between feeding and nesting sites every two to five years, returning to their birthplace to nest. Males visit breeding areas annually to mate. Females nest on beaches at night, laying eggs. Hatchlings hatch and head into the water. Less than one percent of them reach maturity, which can extend up to 80 years.
ECO System Qatar
Sea Grass: Seagrass grows on the seabed, creating underwater meadows that play a crucial role in supporting Gulf ecosystems. These habitats offer shelter to young shrimp, oysters, and various species, serving as a vital food source for many marine creatures. The roots of seagrasses contribute to stabilizing the sandy seabed, protecting it from erosion. Given the high salt levels and extreme temperature variations in the Arabian Gulf, only a few seagrass species can thrive. In Qatar, seagrasses are essential for stabilizing the seabed against wave action and other erosional forces.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
Freyhof, Jörg & Els, Johannes & Feulner, Gary & Hamidan, Nashat & Krupp, Friedhelm. (2020). Freshwater Fishes of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Gallery 2