Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia midas
Size: to 48" ( shell ) and 450 lbs.
Habitat: oceanic
Notes: Greatly reduced in numbers due to hunting. The Green is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, and also the only vegetarian, feeding on algae and "Turtle Grass." Green Sea Turtles are not particularly green on the outside but have green fat, for which they were named in the days when sailors still caught and ate them. Green Sea Turtles have four large scales or "scutes" along each side of the shell; Loggerheads have five.
There are few marine reptiles and even fewer in the cold North Atlantic. While it would be possible for a salt-water crocodile to swim up from the Caribbean, there is no record of one ever having done so. Nor are there any of the sea-snakes that are famous in the South Pacific. The only marine reptiles that are encountered in our waters are sea turtles.
The one exception to this is the little Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. (right) This small turtle ( about 6 inches ) is found only in salt marsh environments. Adults are very strong swimmers and have even been noted in the ocean surf, although I don't think they venture offshore.
More: Sea Turtles ...