Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Federally listed as a Threatened Species, Green Sea Turtles are rare in North Carolina, nesting only occasionally on the beaches here (Beane, et al., 2010).
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Off Hatteras, NC
22 Feb 2014

Transporting a rehabbed Green Sea Turtle into warm waters offshore from Cape Hatteras aboard the Stormy Petrel II.

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Off Hatteras, NC
22 Feb 2014

Gloves are worn to prevent transferring any bacteria from humans to the turtle.

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Off Hatteras, NC
22 Feb 2014

Green Sea Turtles have a single claw on each front flipper and a pair of elongated scales between their eyes.

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Off Hatteras, NC
22 Feb 2014

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Off Hatteras, NC
22 Feb 2014

This is a second Green Sea Turtle we released, which has less barnacle growth on its shell compared to the individual above.

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Off Hatteras, NC
22 Feb 2014

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Created on ... Mar 2, 2014 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com