Five central scutes, low keeled in juveniles, but lacking a median keel in adults and sub adults. Each flipper has one visible claw. On the upper side, the colour can vary from pale to dark and from plain colour to vivid combinations of yellow, brown and green. These may form radiated stripes or a blotch effect. The underside in Atlantic forms is plain white through to a yellowish white.
Juveniles have a yellow border to scales on the head and upper side of flippers.
The rear edges of the flippers and the rim of the carapace is white. Underneath they are white. Rare in temperate waters. The green turtle, together with the hawksbill, is the most tropical of all the marine turtles. Individuals do stray out of these limits but tend to be in a non reproductive phase.