🐢 Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) – The Ocean’s Gentle Grazer

The Green Sea Turtle is one of the largest and most widespread marine turtles, known for its herbivorous diet, long migrations, and importance to coastal ecosystems. These turtles play a crucial role in seagrass bed maintenance and are commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters, including the Sundarbans.

🏷 Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Testudines
• Family: Cheloniidae
• Genus: Chelonia
• Species: Chelonia mydas

🦕 Ancient Mariners – The Green Sea Turtle has existed for over 100 million years, dating back to the era of dinosaurs!

🔬 Morphology & Physical Characteristics

• Size: Adults range from 80 to 120 cm (3 – 4 feet) in shell length.
• Weight: Can weigh between 150 to 400 kg.
• Coloration:
  • Greenish-brown carapace (shell), giving them their name.
  • Yellowish underside (plastron).
• Distinct Features:
  • Flattened, streamlined shell, ideal for swimming.
  • Large, paddle-like flippers, allowing fast movement.
  • Short, blunt head with serrated jaws, perfect for grazing on seagrass and algae.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

The Green Sea Turtle inhabits coastal waters, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves.

🌎 Key Habitats:
✅ Sundarbans (India & Bangladesh) 🌿 – Nesting and feeding grounds.
✅ Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal & Pacific Ocean 🌊 – Found along coasts of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia.
✅ Caribbean & Mediterranean Seas – Important foraging sites.

📌 Preferred Habitat:

• Shallow coastal waters & lagoons – Feeding on seagrass.
• Mangrove estuaries – Juveniles and hatchlings seek refuge here.
• Offshore islands & sandy beaches – Nesting occurs here.

✨ Special Features & Adaptations

1️⃣ Herbivorous Diet – One of the only sea turtles that primarily eat seagrass and algae, helping maintain seagrass bed ecosystems. 🌿
2️⃣ Long-Distance Migration – Travels thousands of kilometers between feeding and nesting sites. 🌊
3️⃣ Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination – Warmer sand produces more females, while cooler sand produces more males. 🌡
4️⃣ Lung Capacity – Can stay underwater for hours without breathing while resting. 🌬
5️⃣ Important for Ecosystem Balance – Controls seagrass overgrowth, keeping marine habitats healthy.

🌿 Presence in the Sundarbans

The Sundarbans serve as an important feeding and nesting ground for Green Sea Turtles, particularly in:

📌 Key Areas in the Sundarbans:
✔ Coastal beaches of Sagar Island, Bakkhali, and Henry’s Island – Nesting sites.
✔ Mangrove estuaries & river mouths – Juveniles seek protection here.
✔ Brackish water zones & shallow seagrass meadows – Foraging areas.

⚠️ Threats to Green Sea Turtles in the Sundarbans

🚨 Poaching & Illegal Egg Harvesting – Eggs and adult turtles are illegally hunted.
🚨 Bycatch in Fishing Nets – Many turtles die due to accidental entanglement in trawl nets.
🚨 Coastal Development & Habitat Loss – Beach erosion and human activities destroy nesting sites.
🚨 Plastic Pollution – Turtles often mistake plastic for jellyfish, leading to fatal ingestion.
🚨 Climate Change – Rising sea levels reduce beach nesting areas and alter ocean currents.

✅ Conservation Efforts in the Sundarbans

✔ Protected Marine Reserves to safeguard feeding grounds.
✔ Ban on Illegal Fishing Practices – Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).
✔ Beach Protection Programs – Protects nesting sites and hatchlings.
✔ Community Awareness & Eco-Tourism Initiatives.

🚨 Conservation Status

📌 IUCN Red List: Endangered ⚠️
📌 CITES: Appendix I (Strict Trade Restrictions).
📌 Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I (Highest Protection).

With declining populations due to human interference and climate change, conservation efforts are crucial for their survival.

The Green Sea Turtle is a vital species in marine and coastal ecosystems. Their presence in the Sundarbans reflects the health of the region’s marine biodiversity. Through sustainable tourism, community engagement, and stricter conservation measures, we can ensure the survival of this gentle marine giant for future generations. 🌊🐢

🌟 Credit Note

🌿 Witness the beauty of Sundarbans on a Sundarban luxury tour package 🛶✨.
🌍 Explore the wilderness with an unforgettable Sundarban travel experience. 🐯🌱.
🐟 Celebrate Bengal’s famous fish at the Sundarban Hilsa Festival 2025 🎣🍽.

For more details, visit the Green Sea Turtle Wikipedia Page.