Green sea turtle - Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) Πράσινη Χελώνα - Cyprus

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle, or Pacific green turtle, is a large sea turtleof the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The common name comes from the usually green fat found beneath its carapace.

This sea turtle's dorsoventrally flattened body is covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. It is usually lightly colored, although in the eastern Pacific populations parts of the carapace can be almost black. Unlike other members of its family, such as the hawksbill sea turtle, C. mydas is mostly herbivorous. The adults usually inhabit shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrasses.

Like other sea turtles, green sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and hatching beaches. Many islands worldwide are known as Turtle Island due to green sea turtles nesting on their beaches. Females crawl out on beaches, dig nests and lay eggs during the night. Later, hatchlings emerge and scramble into the water. Those that reach maturity may live to eighty years in the wild.

C. mydas is listed as endangered by the IUCN and CITES and is protected from exploitation in most countries. It is illegal to collect, harm or kill them. In addition, many countries have laws and ordinances to protect nesting areas. However, turtles are still in danger due to human activity. In some countries, turtles and their eggs are hunted for food. Pollution indirectly harms turtles at both population and individual scales. Many turtles die caught in fishing nets. Also, real estate development often causes habitat loss by eliminating nesting beaches.

Adult green sea turtles mostly eat marine plant life such as kelp and algae, while juveniles have a more carnivorous diet.

Its appearance is that of a typical sea turtle. C. mydas has a dorsoventrally flattened body, a beaked head at the end of a short neck, and paddle-like arms well-adapted for swimming. Adult green turtles grow to 1.5 metres (5 ft) long. The average weight of mature individuals is 68–190 kg (150–419 lb) and the average carapace length is 78–112 cm (31–44 in). Exceptional specimens can weigh 315 kg (694 lb) or even more, with the largest known C. mydas having weighed 395 kg (871 lb) and measured 153 cm (60 in) in carapace length.

Anatomically, a few characteristics distinguish the green turtle from the other members of its family. Unlike the closely related hawksbill turtle, the green turtle's snout is very short and its beak is unhooked. The sheath of the turtle's upper jaw possesses a denticulated edge, while its lower jaw has stronger, serrated, more defined denticulation. The dorsal surface of the turtle's head has a single pair of prefrontal scales. Its carapace is composed of five central scutes flanked by four pairs of lateral scutes. Underneath, the green turtle has four pairs of inframarginal scutes covering the area between the turtle's plastron and its shell. Mature C. mydas front appendages have only a single claw (as opposed to the hawksbill's two), although a second claw is sometimes prominent in young specimens.

The carapace of the turtle has various color patterns that change over time. Hatchlings of Chelonia mydas, like those of other marine turtles, have mostly black carapaces and light-colored plastrons. Carapaces of juveniles turn dark brown to olive, while those of mature adults are either entirely brown, spotted or marbled with variegated rays. Underneath, the turtle's plastron is hued yellow. C. mydas limbs are dark-colored and lined with yellow, and are usually marked with a large dark brown spot in the center of each appendage

The range of the green sea turtle extends throughout tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. There are two major subpopulations, the Atlantic and the eastern Pacific subpopulations. Each population is genetically distinct, with their own set of nesting and feeding grounds within the population's known range

Sea turtles spend almost all their lives submerged, but must breathe air for the oxygen needed to meet the demands of vigorous activity. With a single explosive exhalation and rapid inhalation, sea turtles can quickly replace the air in their lungs. The lungs permit a rapid exchange of oxygen and prevent gases from being trapped during deep dives. Sea turtle blood can deliver oxygen efficiently to body tissues even at the pressures encountered during diving. During routine activity, green and loggerhead turtles dive for about four to five minutes, and surface to breathe for one to three seconds.

Turtles can rest or sleep underwater for several hours at a time, but submergence time is much shorter while diving for food or to escape predators. Breath-holding ability is affected by activity and stress, which is why turtles quickly drown in shrimp trawlers and other fishing gear.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Πλήρες όνομα: Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)
Θαλάσσια χελώνα

Περιγραφή: Μεγάλη σε μέγεθος θαλάσσια χελώνα. Το χέλυο είναι λιγότερο κυρτό από ότι της Caretta caretta και έχει σχήμα καρδίας. Το κυρτό μέγεθος του χελύου φτάνει τα 110 cm σε μήκος και τα 100 cm σε πλάτος. Το χέλυο διαθέτει 4 πλευρικές πλάκες και 11 περιφερικές στην κάθε του πλευρά. Ο θυρεός έχει χρώμα σκούρο καφεπράσινο, ενώ το πλάστρον έχει μπες χρώμα σε απόχρωση του κίτρινου.

Ενδιαίτημα:
Ζει σε ανοικτές θάλασσες και ωκεανούς, αλλά και στα ρηχά νερά κοραλλιογενών υφάλων. Προτιμά τις περιοχές με θερμά σχετικά νερά.

Τροφή:
Φυτοφάγο είδος το οποίο τρέφεται αποκλειστικά με φύκια και άλλα φυτά της θάλασσας. Τα νεαρά άτομα μπορούν να τραφούν και με μαλάκια, κεφαλόποδα και άλλα μικρά υδρόβια ζώα.

Αναπαραγωγή:
Η αναπαραγωγή λαμβάνει χώρο στη θάλασσα. Αποθέτουν τα αυγά κατά το τέλος της Άνοιξης με κορύφωση των γεννήσεων το καλοκαίρι (Ιούνιος). Τα θηλυκά μπορούν να γεννήσουν μέχρι και 5 φορές το χρόνο (συνήθως 3) κάνοντας περίπου 120 αυγά κάθε φορά (20 - 200). Τα αυγά τοποθετούνται σε κοιλότητες που ανοίγει η μητέρα τους στην άμμο. Η επώαση διαρκεί περίπου 50 μέρες.

Εξάπλωση στο νησί: Παραλίες με άμμο κατάλληλες για φωλεοποίηση.

Παγκόσμια εξάπλωση: Κοσμοπολίτικο είδος το οποίο εντοπίζεται σε όλους τους ωκεανούς της υδρογείου.

Κατάσταση: Σπάνιο

Ιδιαίτερη Προστασία:
Είδος Προτεραιότητας
Αυστηρή προστασία από Ευρωπαϊκή Οδηγία 92/43/ΕΚ
Αυστηρή προστασία από τον Κυπριακό Νόμο 153(Ι)2003
Έχει κηρυχτεί ως «Κινδυνεύον» από την IUCN

Πηγη ΕΡΠΕΤΟΛΟΓΙΚΟΣ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Photos Lara 20/8/2015 by George Konstantinou
Underwater photos Akrotiri by Kostas Aristeidou