Turtle

Alligator turtle — See under Alligator, Box, etc.

green turtle — a marine turtle of the genus Chelonia, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which (Chelonia Midas) inhabits the warm part of the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other (Chelonia virgata) inhabits the Pacific Ocean. Both species are similar in habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, especially the turtle grass.

Turtle cowrie — a large, handsome cowrie (Cypraea testudinaria); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in color and form.

Turtle grass — a marine plant (Thalassia testudinum) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies.

Turtle shell — tortoise shell. See under Tortoise.