Green turtle
Chelonia mydas
Sighting evidence at Five-Mile Reef, Sodwana Bay
One of the most wide-ranging marine reptiles, green turtles graze on seagrass and algae throughout tropical and subtropical seas. Unlike hawksbills, their diet means they are most often found near seagrass beds, sandy shallows, and reef flats, where they methodically crop vegetation. Divers typically encounter them resting on the seafloor or at cleaning stations where reef fish pick algae from their shells. Endangered; populations have recovered significantly at protected nesting beaches, though ocean plastic ingestion and boat strikes remain persistent threats.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Green turtle is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.