Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 149, May 2017, pp. 1-30. | Page 3

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My precious wife Ola Khalaf showing the Green Sea Turtle Nest Adoption Certificate in the
name of Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf, near the adopted nest at the Reef Turtle Hatchery on the
Mataking Island, Sabah, Malaysia. 11.02.2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/15914201983/

The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758), also known as the Green
Turtle, Black (Sea) Turtle, or Pacific Green Turtle, is a large sea turtle of the
family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends
throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct
populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The common name comes from
the usually green fat found beneath its carapace (Wikipedia).
This sea turtle's dorsoventrally flattened body is covered by a large, teardropshaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. It is usually lightly
colored, although in the eastern Pacific populations parts of the carapace can be
almost black. Unlike other members of its family, such as the hawksbill sea turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata), C. mydas is mostly herbivorous. The adults usually
inhabit shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrasses
(Wikipedia).
Like other sea turtles, green sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding
grounds and hatching beaches. Many islands worldwide are known as Turtle
Island due to green sea turtles nesting on their beaches. Females crawl out on
beaches, dig nests and lay eggs during the night. Later, hatchlings emerge and
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 149 – May 2017