FWS Focus

Overview

The green sea turtle grows to a maximum size of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds. It has a heart-shaped shell, small head, and single-clawed flippers. Color is variable. Hatchlings generally have a black carapace, white plastron, and white margins on the shell and limbs. The adult carapace is smooth, keelless, and light to dark brown with dark mottling; the plastron is whitish to light yellow. Adult heads are light brown with yellow markings. Identifying characteristics include four pairs of costal scutes, none of which borders the nuchal scute, and only one pair of prefrontal scales between the eyes.

Scientific Name

Chelonia mydas
Common Name
Green Sea Turtle
Common Green Sea Turtle
Green Turtle
FWS Category
Reptiles
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

82 Items

4d

4d

Critical Habitat

Permit

Delisting

4d

Listing

Listing

Listing

4d

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

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4d

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Listing

Listing

Downlisting

Listing

Listing

Listing

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Listing

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Listing

4d

Listing

Downlisting

Critical Habitat

Critical Habitat

Critical Habitat

Critical Habitat

Critical Habitat

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4d

Jul 28, 1978

Jul 28, 1978 4d
Listing and Protecting Loggerhead Sea Turtles as "Threatened Species" and Populations of Gโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 1

4d

Sep 2, 1998

Sep 2, 1998 4d
Designated Critical Habitat; Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles
  • Publication type: Final
Item 2

Critical Habitat

Sep 2, 1998

Sep 2, 1998 Critical Habitat
Designated Critical Habitat; Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles
  • Publication type: Final
Item 3

Permit

Oct 25, 2001

Oct 25, 2001 Permit
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Habitat Conservation Plan and Notice of Receipt of Aโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Application Received
Item 4

Delisting

Aug 1, 2012

Aug 1, 2012 Delisting (Substantial)
90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Green Turtle in Hawaii and Notice of Status Review
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 5

4d

Aug 1, 2012

Aug 1, 2012 4d
90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Green Turtle in Hawaii and Notice of Status Review
  • Publication type: Final
Item 6

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 7

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Endangered)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 8

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 9

4d

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 4d
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 10

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 11

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Endangered)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 12

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 13

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 14

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 15

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 16

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Threatened)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 17

Listing

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 Listing (Endangered)
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 18

4d

Mar 23, 2015

Mar 23, 2015 4d
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 19

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 20

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 21

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 22

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 23

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 24

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 25

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 26

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 27

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 28

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 29

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 30

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 31

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 32

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 33

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 34

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 35

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 36

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 37

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 38

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 39

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 40

Notice

Jun 17, 2015

Jun 17, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Public Hearing
Item 41

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 42

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 43

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 44

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 45

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 46

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 47

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 48

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 49

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 50

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 51

Notice

Jul 27, 2015

Jul 27, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 52

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 53

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 54

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 55

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 56

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 57

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 58

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 59

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 60

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 61

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 62

Notice

Aug 26, 2015

Aug 26, 2015 Notice
Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Cheโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Comment Period Extension
Item 63

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 64

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Endangered)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 65

Downlisting

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Downlisting (Downlist Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 66

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 67

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 68

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 69

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 70

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 71

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Endangered)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 72

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 73

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 74

4d

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 4d
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 75

Listing

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Listing (Endangered)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 76

Downlisting

Apr 6, 2016

Apr 6, 2016 Downlisting (Downlist Threatened)
Final Rule To List Eleven Distinct Population Segments of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as Eโ€ฆ
  • Publication type: Final
Item 77

Critical Habitat

Jul 19, 2023

Jul 19, 2023 Critical Habitat
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Green Sea Turtle
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 78

Critical Habitat

Jul 19, 2023

Jul 19, 2023 Critical Habitat
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Green Sea Turtle
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 79

Critical Habitat

Jul 19, 2023

Jul 19, 2023 Critical Habitat
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Green Sea Turtle
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 80

Critical Habitat

Jul 19, 2023

Jul 19, 2023 Critical Habitat
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Green Sea Turtle
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 81

Critical Habitat

Jul 19, 2023

Jul 19, 2023 Critical Habitat
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Green Sea Turtle
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 82