Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas (Family Cheloniidae)

The Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas inhabits the tropical, and to a lesser extent, the subtropical seas of the world. This is a huge herbivorous sea turtle; although first year hatchlings are thought to be more carnivorous. After the second year the diet shifts and the turtle becomes more herbivorous, grazing on the sea grasses and algae, but they may still take prey. This species is capable of digesting cellulose as efficiently as any mammalian ruminant. Green turtles nest more often on Tobago than they do on Trinidad beaches. It is called the Green Turtle because of the color of its meat and fat.