|
Endangered Florida Reptiles
|
Florida Green Turtle
Chelonia mydas |
Endangered or Threatened Florida Sea Turtles
The Florida Green Turtle
Chelonia mydas
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.
|
Photo credit:
Ursula Keuper-Bennett
Peter Bennett@NOAA |
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.
There are protective laws in place around the world,
but the future of the Green Turtle remains yet to be
determined.
|
