The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also called the black sea turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large marine turtle in the family Cheloniidae. Juveniles are carnivores, feeding on invertebrates and small fish, while adults are herbivorous and feed on a combination of algae and marine plants. Green turtles are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans, with the populations of these two oceans being genetically distinct; they were probably separated from each other when the Isthmus of Panama rose above sea level several million years ago. They are considered an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and while poaching poses a significant threat to their survival, the most major threats are actually unintended harm. They are commonly entangled in fishing nets, hit by boats, or harmed by chemical pollution, and their nesting grounds are prized by wealthy people as sites for luxury beachfront property construction.
