Green Sea Turtle Colouring

The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle and the only sea turtle whose adults mainly eat plants. It lives across tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and also occurs in the Mediterranean. Young turtles spend early years in the open sea, while older juveniles and adults often move into shallow coastal habitats rich in seagrass and algae. A typical adult measures about 90 to 120 centimetres in shell length and weighs roughly 115 to 180 kilograms, although some are larger. Green turtles mature slowly and may live 70 years or more. Their name comes from the greenish fat inside the body, not from a green shell. The shell is usually brown, olive or grey with lighter streaks, and the small rounded head has a gently serrated beak for cropping plants. Like all reptiles, the turtle breathes air and must surface, but it can rest underwater for long periods. Adults may migrate hundreds or thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Females often return to the same general beach region where they hatched to lay eggs. In this picture, the turtle is grazing in a seagrass meadow while three little fish swim nearby. Colour the shell olive green, warm brown, amber or a mix of these shades. Give each large shell plate a slightly different tone, perhaps with golden or dark brown edges. The head and flippers can be olive or grey-green with cream, yellow or brown scales. Keep the underside pale. Colour the seagrass in several greens, from yellow-green to deep teal, and use sandy beige with soft grey rocks below. The little fish can be orange, yellow, silver or striped. Make the water light turquoise near the sunbeams and deeper blue farther down. Long, curved strokes across the shell will show its rounded shape, while strokes following each paddle-like flipper can suggest swimming. Short upward strokes are perfect for seagrass. Take your time around the face and shell pattern, leaving the bold black outlines clear. You may add a few extra bubbles, but keep the meadow simple. Your finished page should make the grazing turtle the main focus and show why healthy seagrass habitats are important feeding places for these remarkable long-distance travellers.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.