Common green turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle, also known as the green turtle, black sea turtle, and Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_sea_turtle
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Testudines
Family
Cheloniidae
Genus
Chelonia
Common green turtle belongs to the family Cheloniidae, order unknown, within the Testudines class.
Species Profile
The green sea turtle, also known as the green turtle, black sea turtle, and Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but it is also found in the Indian Ocean. The common name refers to the usually green fat found beneath its carapace, due to its diet strictly being seagrass, not to the color of its carapace, which is olive to black.
Common green turtles face significant threats throughout their range, primarily from coastal development that destroys critical nesting beaches and feeding habitats. Incidental capture in fishing gear, illegal harvesting for meat and eggs, marine pollution including plastic debris, and climate change impacts on nesting sites and sex ratios contribute to their vulnerable status.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Green turtles inhabit tropical and subtropical coastal waters, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and algae-rich nearshore areas for feeding, while females return to sandy beaches for nesting. Juveniles often utilize coastal lagoons, estuaries, and shallow bays as nursery habitats.
Threats
Coastal development and habitat loss
Fisheries bycatch and entanglement
Illegal harvesting of eggs and adults
Climate change affecting nesting beaches
Marine pollution and plastic ingestion
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU | VUVulnerable | VUVulnerable | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Common green turtle (Chelonia mydas). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-green-turtle