Today we finish up our trip through Asia by studying the incredible Green Sea Turtle. It amazes me to think that the ancestors of this unique creature solely lived on land before finally heading to the water over 150 million years ago. Why did they take to the water? No idea, but it clearly worked for them considering they are still around today. If you are having a tough time understanding just how old these turtles are, think about this for a second. The Green Sea Turtle witnessed first hand the evolution and extinction of the dinosaurs – doesn’t that just blow your mind? Let’s see if there is anything else about this turtle that will knock your socks off.
Turtle Power
The Green Sea Turtle is among the largest sea turtles swimming around our ocean waters. Just how big? Amazingly, they are capable of weighing up to 317.5 kilograms (700 pounds) and has a shell that can extend up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length. Bottom line….this is one giant turtle species. Heck, with these measurements, they would actually be bigger than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but I think Leonardo and the rest of his crew have better martial art skills.
A 700 lb Vegetarian
This particular turtle differs from other sea turtles in a couple of ways. First of all, they are herbivores, which is unusual for most sea turtles. The adults prefer to feed on grasses and algae, however, the juveniles may throw in a crab, jellyfish or sponge every now and again. I guess they need the protein to help them grow into a gigantic, 700 lb creature. The second difference between the Green Sea Turtle and their relatives is their desire to sunbathe. They love heading onto land to soak up some rays with their Seal friends. This behaviour makes them one of the only sea turtles to wander onto land outside of their mating season. Even after 150 million years, they still have a love for dry land. I guess there are some instincts you just can’t get rid of.
Green Sea Turtle Fast Fact
Fishing, habitat destruction and boat propeller accidents are making life very difficult for this ancient creature. Unfortunately, the Green Sea Turtle is classified as endangered and unless something changes, it doesn’t look good for this amazing animal. It would be a sad day if we let an animal that witnessed the evolution of the dinosaurs simply vanish from our planet because we are too shortsighted to notice that we need to change our ways.
