Green turtles do not breed or nest in New Zealand.īeing long-lived animals, they typically take between 20-50 years to reach sexual maturity. Interactions outside these periods are less common but are typically clustered around key sites such as the cleaning stations present within reef systems. Green turtles are solitary animals but are known to occur in large aggregations around natal colonies during the breeding/nesting season. In addition to this, mature animals are also important prey species for several apex predators including the tiger shark ( Galeocerdo cuvier ). The eggs and hatchlings of marine turtles are important seasonal prey for many coastal animals and provide nutrient enrichment for coastal plant species. They play a significant role in maintaining the health of seagrass beds through grazing, and, in reef systems, take part in symbiotic cleaning relationships with several fish species.
Green sea turtles are a marine species primarily associated with coastal habitats including seagrass meadows, saltmarshes, and reef systems.
Juveniles are fairly regularly sighted in the coastal waters of Northland, particularly around Rangaunu Harbour and the Poor Knights Islands, with records becoming sparse in the waters south of the Bay of Plenty. New Zealand is the southernmost distribution of this species in the western Pacific Ocean.Ī resident sub-adult population occurs around Raoul Island in the Kermadec Archipelago. New Zealand’s green turtle population is made up primarily of juvenile and subadult animals belonging to the West Pacific population, although some individuals from Northland have been identified as the Black sea turtles of the Eastern Pacific.ĭistinguished from other marine turtles by its large oval-shaped carapace (shell) which ranges in colour from olive to dark brown, and is arranged with 5 vertebral scutes (shields) running down the centre of its carapace, and 4 pairs of costal scutes (shields) arranged on either side. Weight : 110-200kg (up to 300 kg) DescriptionĪ beautiful large marine turtle, exhibiting a brown or green shell, often highlighted with a scattering of yellow and green markings. Subspecies: Pacific black sea turtle ( C.
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