Green Sea Turtle

Photo: Luke Gordon · CC BY-NC

Green turtles around Sawa-i-Lau are regulars on the shallow reef platform, grazing on seagrass and algae in the sheltered lagoon waters. This island's beaches are recorded nesting habitat for the species, and individuals sighted in the water may be females that have recently nested on or near the beach above. Green turtles are the only sea turtle species that grazes on vegetation as adults, and their grazing maintains seagrass bed health by preventing overgrowth and encouraging new growth.