Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, Big Island, Hawaii
The Hawaiian green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), or honu in Hawaiian, is primarily herbivorous, feeding on sea grasses and algae that grows on the rocks and reef. Green sea turtles are actually not green, but are usually brown, black, or gray; they are named for the color of their internal fat tissue, which is green because of their vegetarian diet. Hawaiian green sea turtles have a life span of 60-70 years. Although the population in Hawaii has been recovering over the last few decades, green sea turtles are listed as threatened on the endangered species list.