Quick answer
IUCN status: Least ConcernGreen turtle at a glance
The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a marine animal in the family Cheloniidae. Range in Indonesia: Tropical Indonesian waters; coastal feeding areas, seagrass meadows, and suitable nesting beaches. Diet: mainly seagrasses and algae; a herbivore. IUCN Red List status: Least Concern. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Chelonia mydas |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Penyu hijau |
| Group | Marine |
| Family | Cheloniidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Tropical Indonesian waters; coastal feeding areas, seagrass meadows, and suitable nesting beaches |
| Linked habitats | Coral Reefs |
| Breathing | Air through lungs |
| Adult diet | Mainly seagrasses and algae |
| Reproduction | Eggs laid on sandy beaches |
| IUCN status | Least Concern · IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group — Red List assessments · assessment 2025 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 701 |
| Diet type | Herbivore (plant-eater) — seagrass and algae grazer (adults); juveniles are omnivorous · Animal Diversity Web |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Reptile Database |
| Venom or poison | Not venomous, but can cause poisoning if eaten · Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J) |
| Observance days | World Turtle Day (23 May) |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) — This label follows the feeding pattern described in the TPWD account, not a time limit for every turtle activity or life stage. · Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
In this guide (12)
Why is it called a green turtle?
The name refers to the colour of body fat, not a rule that every shell is green. This is a reptile that must surface to breathe. Identification should consider head and shell features together; underwater photographs alter colours through lighting and are not a sufficient basis on their own.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Green turtle biology and threats ↗
One life cycle, several habitats
Green turtles use open ocean, coastal feeding areas, and nesting beaches during their life cycle. Adults eat mainly seagrasses and algae. Reefs are only one part of the associated seascape; protecting a beach without maintaining feeding waters and movement routes does not cover all their needs.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Green turtle biology and threats ↗ · WWF-Indonesia — Seagrass ecology ↗
The global status has changed
The Marine Turtle Specialist Group lists green turtles as globally Least Concern in its 2025 assessment. Some subpopulations have different categories. A global category is neither permission to take turtles or eggs nor a measure of success at every beach. Distinguish extinction-risk assessment, local trends, and applicable protection rules.
Evidence: IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group — Red List assessments ↗
Threats remain at sea and ashore
The IUCN specialist-group study highlights fisheries bycatch, coastal development, pollution, climate change, and direct take. Threats differ between regions. Conservation therefore needs to understand local problems and monitor outcomes rather than treating hatchling release as a single answer for the turtle’s whole life cycle.
Evidence: IUCN — Global marine turtle assessment, April 2025 ↗
Quiet space on a nesting beach
Artificial lighting can affect nesting and hatchling orientation. At nesting beaches, follow management restrictions and avoid touching, pursuing, or obstructing turtles. Do not relocate eggs or hatchlings on your own initiative; handling requires appropriate authority and knowledge. A quieter visit leaves more choice to the animal.
Evidence: NOAA Fisheries — Green turtle biology and threats ↗ · NOAA Fisheries — Marine life viewing guidelines ↗
Choosing a useful contribution
Ask how a programme assesses beach conditions, reduces threats, and reports outcomes. Clean-ups should follow local guidance to avoid disturbing nests. If you find a stranded turtle, use the stranded-marine-animal guide and contact the appropriate responders; do not assume every animal on a beach should immediately be pushed into the sea.
Evidence: NOAA — Helping marine life in distress ↗
Explore related habitats
These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.
Scientific classification of the Green turtle
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Testudines |
| Family | Cheloniidae |
| Genus | Chelonia |
| Species | Chelonia mydas |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about the green turtle
What is the scientific name of the green turtle?
The scientific name of the green turtle is Chelonia mydas, in the family Cheloniidae. In Indonesian it is called Penyu hijau.
What kind of animal is the green turtle?
The green turtle is a marine animal in the family Cheloniidae. By diet it is a herbivore (plant-eater): a seagrass and algae grazer (adults); juveniles are omnivorous.
Where does the green turtle live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records the green turtle in: Tropical Indonesian waters; coastal feeding areas, seagrass meadows, and suitable nesting beaches.
Source-supported habitats: Coral Reefs.
What does the green turtle eat?
Diet of the green turtle (adult diet): mainly seagrasses and algae. That makes it a herbivore (plant-eater). Source: Animal Diversity Web.
How does the green turtle reproduce?
The green turtle reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Reptile Database.
Is the green turtle poisonous?
Only if eaten. Sea turtles are not venomous, but eating turtle meat has caused fatal mass poisonings (chelonitoxism). Source: Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J).
Do not catch, handle or disturb wild animals. If bitten, stung or exposed to its toxins, go to the nearest health facility straight away.
Is the green turtle nocturnal?
The cited source records the green turtle as diurnal (active by day). This label follows the feeding pattern described in the TPWD account, not a time limit for every turtle activity or life stage. Source: Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What is the scientific classification of the green turtle?
Scientific classification of the green turtle: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Reptilia, order Testudines, family Cheloniidae, genus Chelonia, species Chelonia mydas.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is the green turtle endangered?
No, according to the global IUCN assessment. The global conservation status of the green turtle: Least Concern (assessment or source update 2025). In the IUCN system, this category means it does not qualify for a threatened category or for Near Threatened in the global assessment. Source: IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group — Red List assessments.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the green turtle protected in Indonesia?
Is the green turtle protected in Indonesia?
Yes. The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 701).
It is also fully protected under Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Decree No. 66 of 2025 on protected fish species (first provision, entry 39).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can the green turtle be kept as a pet?
No. Because the green turtle is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Compare with similar animals
Sources & references
- 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) ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source. How we use sources and data →
National parks where it is recorded
According to the official national park profiles from the KSDAE directorate. The animal may also live elsewhere.
Related causes and news
Help from outside Indonesia
If you live outside Indonesia, you can help sea turtles with rescue and beach protection with World Animal Rescue Network.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network. PanduanHewan itself does not accept donations, and this invitation is not directed at people in Indonesia.
Further reading
Sea turtle: facts, threats and conservation ↗ — World Animal Rescue Network. A broader overview that covers this animal.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network.
Cite this page
Credit PanduanHewan when referring to this page. Check the original evidence sources before reusing a claim.
PanduanHewan. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Last substantive update: 7 October 2026. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/green-turtle/