The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), related to the Hawaiian sea turtle or the Pacific Green Sea Turtle but commonly found in the Caribbean and in North and South America, is a migratory creature with a long history of abuse at the hands of human beings, and today the species is endangered in various parts of the world because of its value as a food, animal predation on its nesting grounds, interference with its migratory patterns, and public ignorance about the plight of the creatures. International efforts are being made to improve the habitat of these creatures and to increase their numbers while also reducing the influences and behaviors that have reduced the population to its present state. The most important threats to the green sea turtle are shrimp trawling, man-made alterations to or destruction of beach habitats, inadvertent harassment of the sea turtle or its habitat by beach traffic and artificial lighting, illegal harvesting, and natural diseases and predators.
The green turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, with populations in different parts of the world varying greatly in size and weight. Green turtles in Florida average 101.5 cm and 136.2 kg body weight (9:32). The Pacific green sea turtle weighs between 67.5 and 180 kg. The name "green" for these turtles does not refer to their external color but rather to the greenish color of the fat inside its body (6:68). Adults actually have a carapace varying in color from black to gray to greenish or brown, often with bold streaks or spots, and with a yellowish white plastron, or the ventral portion of the shell. The population is distributed around the globe in tropical and subtropical waters. In U.S. Atlantic waters, populations are found around the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and from Texas to Massachusetts. Among the important feeding areas for green turtles in Florida are the Indian River, Florida Bay, Homossassa Bay, Crystal River, and Cedar...