The Green Turtle Is Named for Its Fat, Not Its Shell

A green turtle’s shell is not what earned it the name. NOAA Fisheries states that the name comes from the color of the animal’s fat, not its shell. The green color was originally attributed to the turtle’s diet, although NOAA Fisheries notes that other sea turtles have greenish fat as well. The diet is unusual in itself. Green turtles are unique among sea turtles in that they are primarily herbivores, eating mostly seagrasses and algae. The species holds a size record too, as the largest hard-shelled sea turtle. Green turtles are found throughout the world. According to NOAA Fisheries, they nest in over 80 countries and live in the coastal areas of more than 140 countries, and their lifespan is estimated to be 70 years or more.