Galapagos Sea Turtle

Description:

This sea turtle has an average weight of about 400 pounds, which is smaller than some sea turtles. They can grow up to an average of 4 feet in length. The Galapagos turtle used to be classified as a subspecies of the green sea turtle, but due to some different physical characteristics, it is now referred to as the black sea turtle mainly due to the darker color of the shell…note the first photo above. There still seems to be a connection with the green line, although not well defined in sources I have read as to how far apart they exist.

Habitat:

This turtle was first spotted off the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz, resting on the bottom. It was close to 80 feet deep, in a boulder-strewn, coral-encrusted sea bottom. There was a strong current, and that turtle was having much less trouble negotiating the waters than I at the time. This species breeds and lays its eggs only in Galapagos…but migrates to other areas, and their migratory habits are still being studied.

Notes:

If one wants to “zen out” in the ocean, dive with the turtles. They generally glide along at a steady relaxed speed…and if one approaches slowly without excessive motion, they are not concerned about your presence. If they feel threatened, they can easily out-swim a diver. Unfortunately, this species is listed as endangered on the UICN Red List of threatened species. The females come ashore to lay eggs, and the eggs are preyed upon by birds and other land animals. Habitat loss/destruction is also a factor. Chances of any single hatchling surviving has the odds against them. This is the only sea turtle that nests in the Galapagos.