Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Sighting evidence at Bar Reef, Kalpitiya

Photo: MARC MARTIN SOLA · CC BY-NC
Green turtles are resident grazers on Bar Reef's seagrass patches and algae-encrusted coral rubble, with multiple individuals often feeding simultaneously within a single dive. The reef's Marine Sanctuary protections have allowed this population to stabilise after decades of egg collection and fisheries bycatch reduced numbers severely. Turtles here exhibit notably relaxed behaviour around divers, a reflection of the reduced human pressure compared to more accessible Sri Lankan reefs.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Green Sea Turtle is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.