Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Chelonia mydas
Tortuga prieta, Tortuga marina verde, East Pacific Green Turtle







Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Testudines
Family
Cheloniidae
Genus
Chelonia
Species
mydas
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Chelonia mydas mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), Chelonia agassizii Bocourt, 1868, Testudo mydas Linnaeus, 1758, Chelonia mydas agassizii Bocourt, 1868, Chelonia agassizi Bocourt, 1868. There are two morphotypes in Galapagos: Black and Yellow turtle. Also, there are a discussion if this species is a subspecies Chelonia mydas agassizii.
Origin: Native
Distribution: Widespread throughout the entire tropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. The morph know as Black Turtle is restricted to the Pacific Ocean.
- Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Milstead, B., Márquez, C., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P., Llerena, A., et al. (2007) Galapagos vertebrates: endangered status and conservation actions. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 104–110.
- Carrillo, E. Aldás, S., Altamirano, M.A., Ayala-Varela, F., Cisneros-Heredia, D.F., Endara, A., Márquez, C., Morales, M., Nogales-Sornosa, F., Salvador, P., Torres, M.L., Valencia, J., Villamarín-Jurado, F., Yánez-Muñoz, M.H. & Zárate, P. (2005) Lista Roja de los Reptiles del Ecuador. Fundación Novum Milenium, UICN-Sur, UICN-Comité Ecuatoriano, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Serie Proyecto PEEPE. Quito, 46 pp.
- Heller, E. (1903) Reptiles. In Papers from the Hopkins Stanford Galapagos Expedition 1898-1899. Proceedings of the Washington Academy Sciences 5: 39-98.
- Slevin, J.R. (1935) An account of the reptiles inhabiting the Galápagos Islands. Bulletin New York Zoological Society 38: 1-24.
- Zarate, P. Dutton, P. (2002) Tortuga verde. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.): Reserva marina de Galápagos. Línea base de la biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 305–323.
- Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
- Arteaga, A. Bustamante, L., Vierira, J., Tapia, W., Guayasamin, J.M. (2019) Reptiles of the Galapagos Life on the Enchanted Islands Tropical Herping
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Chelonia mydas", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5260. Accessed 8 February 2025.