Green sea turtle

Green sea turtles spend much of their 80-year lifespan enjoying tropical beaches and sunbathing on shore. While underwater, these massive turtles swim gracefully through the shallow, warm waters off the northwestern Hawaiian islands and the Atlantic coast. Rising sea levels may soon cover many of the beaches where these great turtles lay their eggs, leaving them with no place to nest. Temperature also uniquely affects turtles in determining the gender of incubating eggs. Warmer temperatures swing the balance toward female turtles, and it is possible future generations of turtles will be born 100 percent female! This problem is shared by turtle species worldwide, including the hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, Kemp’s ridley, and Olive ridley sea turtles.

Scientific name: Chelonia mydas
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Endangered Species Act List: Endangered
Region: Southeast, Mid-Pacific, Oceans