Green Turtle Seen from Above Over Sand

A single sea turtle swims over a pale, sandy seabed, photographed from directly above. Its reddish-brown shell fills the centre of the frame, and the pale seams between the scutes form a neat pattern of plates. The head points up the frame, with large scales visible on the crown. The front flippers stretch out to each side, and the mottled brown-and-cream scales on them are easy to see. The two rear flippers trail at the bottom. The water is soft blue-grey and slightly hazy, and thin strands of seagrass and debris are scattered over the sand. The mood is quiet and unhurried, with the warm shell standing out against the cool background.

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) live in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. They usually stay in shallow coastal waters with seagrass beds or algae. Adults are mostly herbivorous, which is unusual among sea turtles, and the species is named for the greenish fat beneath its shell, not for the colour of the shell itself. Females return to nesting beaches every few years to lay their eggs, and many travel long distances between feeding and nesting areas. The square format and the centred subject suit a phone lock screen or a tablet. The plain background leaves room for icons on a desktop.

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