The hatchlings are not green. Why are they called green turtles?
Green turtles derive their name from the color of their fat, as they used to be a staple in the diet of many ancient mariners, who gave them their name. Their scientific name Chelonia mydas is perhaps more appropriate, Chelonia being the generic term for the hard shelled turtles, and mydas being king – an apt name for such a magnificent creature.
