<P> Green sea turtles move across three habitat types , depending on their life stage . They lay eggs on beaches . Mature turtles spend most of their time in shallow , coastal waters with lush seagrass beds . Adults frequent inshore bays , lagoons and shoals with lush seagrass meadows . Entire generations often migrate between one pair of feeding and nesting areas . Green sea turtles , Chelonia mydas , are classified as an aquatic species and are distributed around the globe in warm tropical to subtropical waters . The environmental parameter that limits the distribution of the turtles is ocean temperatures below 7 to 10 degrees Celsius . Within their geographical range , the green sea turtles generally stay near continental and island coastlines . Near the coastlines , the green sea turtles live within shallow bays and protected shores . In these protected shores and bays , the green sea turtle habitats include coral reefs , salt marshes , and nearshore seagrass beds . The coral reefs provide red , brown , and green algae for their diet and gives protection from predators and rough storms within the ocean . The salt marshes and seagrass beds contain seaweed and grass vegetation , allowing ample habitat for the sea turtles . </P>
what is the habitat of the green sea turtle
warm tropical to subtropical waters near continental and island coastlines within shallow bays and protected shores coral reefs , salt marshes , and nearshore seagrass beds