Green sea turtles eat algae, seaweed and seagrass. Their saw-like beaks allow them to tear and scrape seaweed from rocks. Leatherback sea turtles, on the other hand, eat jellyfish and soft-bodied invertebrates. Their cusps are very sharp.
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Diet of green sea turtles
The diet of green sea turtles is varied. They spend most of their time in shallow ocean waters where they feed on seaweed, algae, and sea grass. They rarely come ashore to feed. Green sea turtles migrate thousands of miles between nesting beaches and feeding grounds. Their long migrations are seasonal and occur in tropical waters. During the breeding season, female green sea turtles often migrate back to their natal beaches to lay their eggs.
Green sea turtles are mostly vegetarian in the wild, but they will occasionally consume fish, capelin, squid, and other seafood. They may also eat crickets. Other plant-based foods include sea lettuce, moss, and sea grasses.
Habitats
The habitats of green sea turtles are under threat due to human activities. Coastal development and pollution are destroying seagrass beds essential to these creatures’ diets. In addition, turtles are commonly harvested for their meat. That’s why it is crucial to protect their habitats. A good way to do this is to install Turtle Exclusion Devices in coastal areas.
One of the most important habitats of green sea turtles is the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. These waters support the turtles’ breeding activities. These waters also provide protection against invasive species.
Diet
Although green sea turtles generally eat seagrass, kelp, and other plant-based foods, their diets vary widely between species. In the Caribbean, green sea turtles mostly feed on seagrass, while in the Pacific they often eat algae and seaweed. They also sometimes eat jellyfish and other marine organisms, including sponges and jellyfish.
Green sea turtles are federally endangered and have faced a number of threats, including habitat destruction and light pollution. Light pollution and water pollution kill seagrass beds, which are essential to the turtles’ diet. Green sea turtles are also often hunted for their meat. The turtles must remain protected from these threats, which is why Turtle Exclusion Devices are essential to their survival.
Adaptations
Green sea turtles have adapted to a variety of conditions throughout their long lives. For example, during the winter, they use stored energy to stay warm and use cloacal breathing to draw oxygen from the water as it passes over their blood vessels. During their breeding seasons, they migrate long distances and have specialized navigation systems that use temperature and wave direction to find their way.
Like all marine reptiles, sea turtles must cope with the salty environment of the ocean. Their lachrymal salt gland helps rid the body of excess salt, and is located near their eye cavity. This is one of the main reasons that sea turtles sometimes look like they are crying. Leatherback sea turtles have a larger lachrymal gland, which helps them get the salt from jellyfish and other forms of gelatinous plankton.
Locations
Geographically, the green sea turtle is found throughout temperate waters in the Pacific Ocean, with breeding grounds along the west coast of North America and as far north as Alaska. They also nest locally in Hawaii, Florida, and Mexico, where their numbers are increasing. These turtles are strictly herbivorous and feed on sea grasses and algae. In fact, their name comes from the turtle grass they eat.
One of the greatest threats facing this species is the commercial harvest of eggs and other parts of the turtle. These parts are sometimes sold as curios and leather, and the small turtles are sometimes stuffed. In addition, incidental catch from commercial shrimp trawling is increasing the number of deaths of these turtles. Because of these threats, there are estimated to be between eighty to ninety thousand nesting females, which is a very small population.
Threats
Green sea turtles are in danger from a number of different threats. Some of these include climate change and coastal development. These factors affect nesting beaches and decrease the amount of dry sand available for nesting. Light pollution also affects sea turtles and can confuse their hatchlings. Another threat to the turtles’ existence is the introduction of invasive species.
Several different types of watercraft have the potential to strike green turtles. These strikes can cause death or debilitating injuries for the turtles. These strikes often occur in areas with high boat traffic. These collisions are particularly dangerous for nesting females.
