Chelonia mydas
A marine reptile connecting seagrass meadows, coastal waters, and nesting beaches. Global recovery does not remove the threats turtles face at individual sites.
PANDUANHEWAN · INDONESIA
Green turtle vs Hawksbill turtle: the differences
How do the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) differ? Classification, features, range, diet, size, IUCN status and legal protection, from cited sources.
The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) share the family Cheloniidae but belong to different genera: Chelonia and Eretmochelys. Range in Indonesia — the green turtle: Tropical Indonesian waters; coastal feeding areas, seagrass meadows, and suitable nesting beaches; the hawksbill turtle: Coral-reef waters across Indonesia, especially around small islands in the Java Sea, Flores Sea, Makassar Strait and Karimata Strait.
Eretmochelys imbricata
A pointed-beaked turtle closely associated with coral reefs. Shell trade, accidental capture, and habitat loss connect human choices with its future.
Green turtle and Hawksbill turtle compared
| Aspect | Green turtle | Hawksbill turtle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Chelonia mydas | Eretmochelys imbricata |
| Indonesian name | Penyu hijau | Penyu sisik |
| Class | Reptilia | Reptilia |
| Order | Testudines | Testudines |
| Family | Cheloniidae | Cheloniidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Tropical Indonesian waters; coastal feeding areas, seagrass meadows, and suitable nesting beaches | Coral-reef waters across Indonesia, especially around small islands in the Java Sea, Flores Sea, Makassar Strait and Karimata Strait |
| Endemic to Indonesia | No | No |
| Key features | — | Pointed beak; overlapping shell scutes |
| Size | — | Carapace length: Up to about 1 m |
| Diet | Mainly seagrasses and algae | Marine sponges |
| Diet type | herbivore (plant-eater) | carnivore (meat-eater) |
| Reproduction | laying eggs (oviparous) | laying eggs (oviparous) |
| IUCN status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Legal protection | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) |
Every cell comes from the sourced data on each animal’s page; an empty cell means the data is not yet available, not that it is absent.
How to tell them apart
- Hawksbill turtle: Pointed beak; overlapping shell scutes.
Sources
- NOAA Fisheries — Green turtle biology and threats ↗
- WWF-Indonesia — Seagrass ecology ↗
- IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group — Red List assessments ↗
- IUCN — Global marine turtle assessment, April 2025 ↗
- NOAA Fisheries — Marine life viewing guidelines ↗
- NOAA — Helping marine life in distress ↗
- Peraturan Menteri LHK Nomor P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi ↗
- Animal Diversity Web ↗
- Reptile Database ↗
- Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ↗
- Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- NOAA Fisheries — Hawksbill turtle ↗
- WWF — Hawksbill turtle ↗
- SEE Turtles — Too Rare To Wear ↗
- NOAA Fisheries — Viewing marine life ↗
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