Cayman Islands Turtles

Green turtle

It is named not for the color of its shell, which is normally brown or olive depending on its habitat, but for the greenish color of its skin. Weighing up to 700 pounds (317.5 kilograms) green turtles are among the largest sea turtles in the world. Their proportionally small head, which is non-retractable, extends from a heart-shaped carapace that measures up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). Males are slightly larger than females and have a longer tail. Both have flippers that resemble paddles, which make them powerful and graceful swimmers.

Unlike most sea turtles, adult green turtles are herbivorous, feeding on sea grasses and algae

Diet:  Herbivore
Average life span in the wild:  Over 80 years
Size:  Up to 5 ft (1.5 m)
Weight:  Up to 700 lbs (317.5 kg)

Did you know?

Like other sea turtles, the green turtle cannot pull its head into its shell.

Hawksbill turtle

Not particularly large compared with other sea turtles, hawksbills grow up to about 45 inches (114 centimeters) in shell length and 150 pounds (68 kilograms) in weight. Their tapered heads end in a sharp point resembling a bird’s beak, hence their name. A further distinctive feature is a pair of claws adorning each flipper. Male hawksbills have longer claws, thicker tails, and somewhat brighter coloring than females.

They are normally found near reefs rich in the sponges they like to feed on.

Diet:  Carnivore
Average life span in the wild:  30 to 50 years (est.)
Size:  24 to 45 in (62.5 to 114 cm)
Weight:  100 to 150 lbs (45 to 68 kg)

Did you know?

Young hawksbill turtles are unable to dive deep and spend their early years floating amongst sea plants near the water’s surface.

Did you know?

Sea turtles can move through the water at speeds of up to 15 mi (24 km) per hour.

Fact:

Sea turtles are aptly named, for they spend most of their lives in the sea. Males rarely ever go on land at all, and females only climb up on the shore to lay their eggs for just a few hours before returning to the sea.

Fact:

Green sea turtles can get big, but the largest one ever found weighed a whopping 871 pounds [395 kg]!

True or false? The green sea turtle can pull its head into its shell.
Answer: False. This is not only true of the green sea turtle, but of other sea turtles as well.

Fact:

Green sea turtles got their name because they're green, of course. But why are they green? The body fat of the sea turtles are green, because the sea grasses or algae they eat are green.

Fact:

Sea turtles are very good at holding their breath! When resting, they can hold their breath for up to two hours at a time! Never get yourself into a breath holding contest with a sea turtle.

Fact:

The only time green sea turtles vocalize, is when they are mating.

Fact:

Female and male green turtles are very similar until they reach maturity, and then you can distinguish gender by looking at their tails -- males have thicker and longer tails than females.

Did You Know?

Because of their sponge diet, their flesh is harmful to humans. Sponges contain toxic chemical compounds which accumulate in the animal’s tissues. The consumption of their meat by humans may cause serious illness and in extreme cases even death.

Hawksbills are important inhabitants of coral reefs. By consuming sponges, they play an important role in the reef community, aiding corals in growth. It’s estimated that one turtle can consume over 1,000 pounds of sponges per year. Without them, sponges have the ability to overgrow corals and suffocate reefs.

A few quick stingray facts:

Southern stingrays visit cleaning stations where bluehead wrasses and Spanish hogfish eat parasites and mucus from the stingrays’ bodies.

Remember to shuffle your feet through the sand when you’re wading in the water—these shy animals will simply swim out of the way. Never try to touch or harass stingrays or other ocean animals. By being respectful of their lives and homes, you’ll help protect their populations for the future.