Green Turtle Gliding Through Open Blue Water

A sea turtle swims left of centre in clear blue-green water, seen from slightly above and to the side. Its raised front flipper points toward the top of the frame, while the other flipper reaches forward below the head. The shell is a warm reddish brown with pale streaks along the scute edges, and it stands out against the cool, evenly lit water. The head is turned toward the camera, and the flippers carry a mosaic of dark and cream scales. Below, a soft, hazy seabed fades into the blue, which leaves plenty of open space around the animal. The mood is calm and unhurried.

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) live in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. They take their name from the green tint of their body fat, not from the colour of the shell. Adults are mostly grazers on seagrass and algae, though young turtles eat a broader mix of food. They surface regularly to breathe, but they can stay under for long periods while resting. Females return to sandy beaches to nest, often near where they hatched. The wide landscape format and the open water on every side suit desktop monitors and ultrawide screens, where desktop icons can sit on the empty blue without covering the turtle.

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