Endangered Florida Reptiles

The Turtles of Florida

Endangered or Threatened Florida Sea Turtles

The Florida Green turtle is a medium sized

Sea Turtle that can weigh up to a record 650 pounds.

It is endangered in the U.S. and was placed on the (ESA) in 1978.

Unlike most other Sea turtles, the Green is an Herbivore

preferring to dine on the sea grasses and algae of

our Florida Eastern and Western coastal areas.

Green Turtles now nest primarily along Florida's East coast.

A Green Sea Turtle
Photo credit: Mila Zinkova

The major threat to the species are fishing accidents

in addition to egg and adult turtle poaching.

They have also been found to be a culinary delight in

certain countries, making them even more endangered.

A Green Sea Turtle Hatchling
Photo credit: Manuel Heinrich Emha

This story explains how the Loggerhead and Green Turtles

 have been decimated for the past one hundred years:

Turtles killed for their shells