Sea Turtle:  Chelonia mydas The sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, has a thick, heavy and bony shell covered in platelike scales. In the adult, it is usually olive green or dark brown, marbled, or spotted with yellow. The sea turtle gets rid of excess salt water though a special gland near the eyes. The feet and legs of the tortoise are designed for walking. However, the sea turtle's feet and legs have been modified into powerful flippers that propel it through the water. The turtle's shell is thinner than that of the tortoise. Its head is too big to be withdrawn into the shell. One of the largest of the seven species of sea turtle, the green turtle used to be common throughout the warmer seas of the world. Today its numbers are a fraction of what they once were. Like most turtles, the sea turtle has been hunted to the brink of extinction by man for its flesh, eggs, and shell.
Print Number - TUR002
Limited Edition signed color photography for sale by Stephen Brunson

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Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas Statistics:

Length:                  Up to 5 ft
Sexual Maturity:     10 - 15 yrs
Mating Season:      October to February
Lifespan:                40 - 50 years
Diet:                      Crustaceans and fish when young. Adults eat plants only.
Number of Young: Approximately 100 eggs in each batch. Several Batches laid over a few weeks.
Habit:                    Usually solitary, except for nesting females and their young
Related Species:    There are 7 species of sea turtles, the largest being the leatherback, which grows to over 6 ft. in length.

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