sea turtle

noun

1. any of several large turtles of the families Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical seas, having the limbs modified into paddlelike flippers: all sea turtles are either threatened or endangered through most of their range because of ocean pollution.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea turtle¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

"There's so many green sea turtles in that area, so many sting rays," he said.

From BBC

“Finally, with this necessary update to the bag ban, plastic grocery bags will no longer be a threat to sea turtles, birds, and other wildlife in California.”

From Los Angeles Times

An injured loggerhead sea turtle has been released back into the wild.

From BBC

The proposed sanctuary will protect over 200 shipwrecks, along with a diverse ecosystem featuring wildlife such as sea otters, humpback whales, leatherback sea turtles and lush kelp forests.

From Salon

Left in the wild, their mangled remains entangle birds and choke sea turtles that mistake them for edible jellyfish.

From Salon