Sea turtles are characterized by a large, streamlined shell and non-retractile head and limbs. Unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot pull their limbs and head inside their shells. Their limbs are flippers that are adapted for swimming, so they are vulnerable while on land.

Sea turtles are ancient species, having been around since the time of the dinosaurs - about 110 million years. All six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters are protected by the Endangered Species Act. They are the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley.

10 Tremendous Turtle Facts

• Green sea turtles are what they eat!
• Sea turtles lay their eggs in a nest they dig in the sand with their rear flippers.
• Sand temperature is very important.
• Hawksbill turtles use their beaks to help extract their favorite prey.
• One sea turtle species nests during the day.

And retract into their shells like other turtles do sea turtles have flippers that let them swim well in the water. And these flippers. Also help them walk on land.

Turtles are reptiles, which means they are cold-blooded, have a backbone, breathe air, and lay eggs. They have a hard outer shell that is made out of keratin, the same thing that your fingernails are made of. They live primarily in water, and some can live to be 150 years old.

Typically, tortoises live entirely on land, while sea turtles live entirely in the water – they only come on land to lay eggs. Turtles spend time in the water and on land. There are, however, exceptions. For example, box turtles spend their lives on land.

Most of the creation myths from the Native American people tell that the earth was created from some mud laid on the back of a giant turtle and that the earth is still carried on its back. Also when the giant turtle stretches it causes earthquakes.

Over the last 200 years, human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners. Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation.

Green sea turtles are one of the world's largest species of turtle, weighing around 65-130kg and measuring between 1-1.2m long. They have a strong, tear-drop shape shell, called a 'carapace', which covers most of their body, except for their head and four flippers.

Sea turtles have played vital roles in maintaining the health of the world's oceans for more than 100 million years. These roles range from maintaining productive coral reef ecosystems to transporting essential nutrients from the oceans to beaches and coastal dunes.

In some parts of the world, sea turtles are used for ceremonial purposes. Their shells and skins are also used to make a variety of objects like jewelry, sunglasses, tourist trinkets, instruments, and wall hangings. The hawksbill in particular is valued for its shell which is used for ornamental purposes.

Turtle facts

• Turtles belong to one of the oldest reptile groups in the world – beating snakes, crocodiles and alligators!
• These creatures date back to the time of the dinosaurs, over 200 million years ago – woah!
• Turtles are easily recognised by their bony, cartilaginous shell.

Like other amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals) they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. Turtle shells are made mostly of bone; the upper part is the domed carapace, while the underside is the flatter plastron or belly-plate.

'Third eye' helps sea turtles sense changes in seasons.

Sea turtles are marine reptiles with streamlined bodies and large flippers that are well-adapted to life in the ocean. Six species are found in U.S. waters, all of which are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle. They are unique among sea turtles in that they are herbivores, eating mostly seagrasses and algae. This diet is what gives their fat a greenish color (not their shells), which is where their name comes from. Green turtles are found throughout the world.