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What the sources say

Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Green Sea Turtle profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 36 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

NOAA Fisheries

Green Turtle. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysThe only sea turtle that is mainly a plant-eater
The source saysThey are unique among sea turtles in that they are primarily herbivoresNote: tagline; primarily herbivores rendered mainly a plant-eater; "only" renders "unique among sea turtles"; NOAA also says "the only herbivorous species of sea turtle"
The page saysCoastal waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean, mostly subtropical and temperate, plus nesting beaches
The source saysGreen turtles are found worldwide primarily in subtropical and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea.Note: stats.habitat; nesting on sandy beaches: Adult female sea turtles return to land to lay their eggs on sandy beaches
The page saysMostly seagrasses and algae, plus sponges, invertebrates and discarded fish when available
The source sayseating mostly seagrasses and algae, although they may also eat sponges and other invertebrates and discarded fish when availableNote: stats.diet
The page saysThe green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle.
The source saysThe green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle.
The page saysA typical adult is 3 to 4 feet long and weighs 300 to 350 pounds.
The source saysA typical adult is 3 to 4 feet long and weighs 300 to 350 pounds
The page saysIts shell is dark brown, grey or olive.
The source saysthey have dark brown, grey, or olive colored shells
The page saysThe name "green" comes from the color of its fat, not its shell.
The source saysThe name “green turtle” comes from the color of their fat (not their shells)
The page saysGreen turtles are the only sea turtles that are mainly herbivores.
The source saysThey are unique among sea turtles in that they are primarily herbivoresNote: "only" renders "unique among sea turtles"; NOAA also says "the only herbivorous species of sea turtle"
The page saysTheir diet is mostly algae and seagrasses, though they may also eat invertebrates and discarded fish if available.
The source saysTheir diet mainly consists of algae and seagrasses, though they may also eat invertebrates and other animal matter (e.g., discarded fish and bait) if available.
The page saysFemales reach maturity at 25 to 35 years old.
The source saysFemale green turtles reach maturity at 25 to 35 years.
The page saysGreen turtles are estimated to live 70 years or more.
The source saysUnknown, but estimated to be 70 years or more
The page saysEvery 2 to 5 years, adults swim hundreds to thousands of miles each way between feeding grounds and nesting beaches.
The source saysGreen turtles migrate hundreds to thousands of miles each way between their foraging grounds and nesting beaches. ... Adults migrate every 2 to 5 years from their coastal foraging areas to the waters off the nesting beaches
The page saysThe turtles are found worldwide, mostly in subtropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea.
The source saysGreen turtles are found worldwide primarily in subtropical and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea.
The page saysA female returns to a beach in the general area where she hatched, decades earlier.
The source saysfemales return to nest on a beach in the general area where they hatched decades earlier
The page saysOn average, 30,000 females nest per season at Tortuguero in Costa Rica.
The source saysTortuguero on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica—30,000 females nest per season (on average)
The page saysAt Raine Island on the Great Barrier Reef, up to 60,000 females nest on the island and its surrounding reef in a peak season.
The source saysRaine Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia—During a peak nesting season, up to 60,000 females nest on this island and the surrounding reef
The page saysA nest holds about 110 eggs, and a female nests every 2 weeks over several months.
The source saysGreen turtles lay about 110 eggs per nest and will nest every 2 weeks over several months
The page saysAfter about two months in the warm sand, the eggs hatch.
The source saysAfter about two months incubating in the warm sand, the eggs hatch
The page saysHatchlings head for the brightest horizon, which on an undeveloped beach is the open horizon over the ocean.
The source saysto crawl towards the brightest horizon. On undeveloped beaches, this is toward the open horizon over the ocean.
The page saysHatchlings live for several years in the open ocean. Juveniles eventually travel to nearshore feeding grounds in shallow coastal habitats.
The source sayshatchlings swim to offshore areas, where they live for several years in pelagic (open ocean) habitat. Juveniles eventually leave the open ocean habitat and travel to nearshore foraging grounds in shallow coastal habitats
The page saysNOAA Fisheries lists 11 distinct population segments under the Endangered Species Act, three as endangered and eight as threatened.
The source says11 distinct population segments (DPS) listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Three of the DPSs are listed as endangered and eight are listed as threatened under the ESA.Note: current NOAA species page, read 2026-10-05; ESA is a legal status separate from the IUCN category
The page saysyoung turtles forage on plant and animal life in drifting communities in the open ocean, such as floating Sargassum seaweed.
The source saysPrior to recruiting to nearshore foraging areas, pelagic juveniles forage on plant and animal life found in oceanic drift communities (such as pelagic Sargassum communities).
The page saysThey nest in over 80 countries and live in the coastal areas of more than 140.
The source saysThey nest in over 80 countries and live in the coastal areas of more than 140 countries.
The page saysEvery 2 to 5 years a female green turtle swims hundreds to thousands of miles back to the beach where she hatched
The source saysGreen turtles migrate hundreds to thousands of miles each way between their foraging grounds and nesting beaches. ... Adults migrate every 2 to 5 years from their coastal foraging areas to the waters off the nesting beachesNote: vibe.reason (task #1096 re-pair, duplicate song with goat)
The page saysback to the beach where she hatched
The source saysfemales return to nest on a beach in the general area where they hatched decades earlierNote: vibe.reason

Source
02

Wallace & Broderick 2025

Wallace & Broderick (2025). Chelonia mydas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T4615A285108125.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; 2024 assessment, category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

Source
03

Lohmann et al. 2004

Lohmann et al. (2004). Geomagnetic map used in sea-turtle navigation. Nature.

The page sayswith a map in its head that is at least partly magnetic
The source saysthe green sea-turtle (Chelonia mydas) has a map that is at least partly based on geomagnetic cuesNote: tagline
The page saysNavigates with a map that is at least partly based on Earth's magnetic field
The source sayshas a map that is at least partly based on geomagnetic cuesNote: stats.superpower; geomagnetic rendered as Earth's magnetic field
The page saysA study in Nature showed that the green sea turtle has a map that is at least partly based on geomagnetic cues, which are clues from Earth's magnetic field.
The source saysHere we show that the green sea-turtle (Chelonia mydas) has a map that is at least partly based on geomagnetic cues.Note: clause after the comma defines geomagnetic (geo = Earth); no source states it
The page sayssteering by a map that is at least partly magnetic
The source saysHere we show that the green sea-turtle (Chelonia mydas) has a map that is at least partly based on geomagnetic cues.Note: vibe.reason

Source
04

Heithaus et al. 2007

Heithaus et al. (2007). State-dependent risk-taking by green sea turtles mediates top-down effects of tiger shark intimidation in a marine ecosystem. Journal of Animal Ecology.

The page saysIn Shark Bay, Australia, tiger sharks threaten green turtles.
The source saysIn the relatively pristine seagrass community of Shark Bay, Australia, we found that herbivorous green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758) threatened by tiger sharks
The page saysResearchers found that turtles in poor body condition picked rich but risky spots.
The source saysTurtles in poor body condition selected profitable, high-risk microhabitats
The page saysTurtles in good condition chose safer spots with less food.
The source saysturtles in good body condition, which are more abundant, selected safer, less profitable microhabitats
The page saysWhen the risk of shark attack was low, turtles in good condition moved into the richer spots too.
The source saysWhen predation risk was low, however, turtles in good condition moved into more profitable microhabitats.

Source
05

Howell & Shaver 2021

Howell & Shaver (2021). Foraging Habits of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science.

The page saysIn a Texas study of gut contents from 420 dead immature green turtles, animal matter remained a frequently eaten item, and the authors suggest these young turtles are better classified as omnivores.
The source saysgreen turtle diets from carcasses salvaged from 1987 to 2014 along the Texas coast. Digestive tract contents were examined from 420 green turtles ... Animal matter remained a frequently ingested diet item suggesting these immature green turtles are better classified as omnivores.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.