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Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)
| Family Name: | Cheloniidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Reptile) |
| Common Name: | Green Turtle |
Name
Description
| Description | Limbs modified into elongated paddles. Oval-shaped carapace mottled brown and black, scutes not overlapping. One pair of prefrontal scales on the fore head. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | This fully marine turtle is usually found in shallow, inshore waters around coral reefs and seagrass beds. Females come ashore to lay eggs on selected sandy beaches. It feeds largely on seagrass. The species has a circum-tropical distribution, and is known from all warm seas. In Singapore, individuals have been sighted in the Singapore Straits, and nests have occasionally been uncovered on the beaches along the southern coastlines. |
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| Habitats | Marine, Coral Reef, Open Sea |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Pollution of the sea, reclamation of nesting beaches and over-collection for its meat and eggs. Fishing nets can trap and drown turtles. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | An important resource for tourism. The meat and eggs are edible and highly marketable. Hatchling turtles are sometimes sold as aquarium pets. |
| Conservation Notes | Habitat protection, strict policing against illegal collection. The Green Turtle is internationally acknowledged as an endangered species. |
Status
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Critically Endangered (CR) [2008], Endangered (E) [1994] |
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| IUCN Red List | Endangered |
| CITES | Appendix I |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Ng, P.K.L. & Wee, Y.C. (Eds.). 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book (1st Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 343pp |
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