In the wide world of the animal kingdom, you’d be hard-pressed to find any creature as beloved as turtles. These remarkable creatures have been cruising around the world’s oceans for millennia, literally before dinosaurs roamed the earth – quite the innings! What makes this even more impressive is the fact that turtle lifestyles and behaviour have remained largely unchanged over millions of years.

Our vibrant Great Barrier Reef ecosystem is home to six of the world’s seven marine turtle species. While some – like the loggerhead and green turtle — are commonly sighted, others such as the olive ridley and leatherback are more elusive. Can’t tell your shells apart? Learn to distinguish each species using the Queensland Marine Turtle Field Guide.

Without further ado, let’s get to know the six turtle species that call the Great Barrier Reef home.

Green turtle

Named after the greenish hue of their cartilage and fat, green turtles are easily spotted thanks to their high-domed and smooth shells. As one of the largest sea turtles getting around the Reef, this species is also the only predominantly herbivorous species amongst its shell-backed pals. As its name suggests, these majestic creatures are typically an olive-green shade – but some may boast brown, reddish-brown, or even striking black highlights. Hatchlings, on the other hand, have black shells outlined in white.

Among the six marine turtle species in the Great Barrier Reef, green turtles are the most abundant. Primarily feeding on seagrasses, mangrove, and algae, they are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem – they help maintain the health of seagrass beds and support the overall balance of underwater life. Green turtle nesting habits also play a role in shaping coastal landscapes – 19 green turtle nesting sites have been recorded around the Reef.

Flatback turtle

The flatback turtle's name is quite descriptive. Adults are easily identified by their flat, low shell with upturned edges covered by a thin skin. Underneath, a distinct splash of white adds to their unique appearance.

Adult flatbacks have olive-grey flippers and heads. In contrast, young flatbacks are grey with a white underbelly, standing out from the typical brown of other hatchlings.

These turtles exclusively nest on the continental shelf of Australia. When not feeding in Aussie waters, they migrate to the waters of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

Hawksbill turtle

The hawksbill turtle is a striking species of the Great Barrier Reef, typically foraging on coral and rocky reefs. The warm waters of the northern Reef make it an ideal spot for these turtles to breed, but they feed all the way down into New South Wales waters.

As its name suggests, the hawksbill turtle has some prominent avian-inspired features – its beak-like mouth and narrow head make it rather easy to identify! This beak comes in handy for picking sponges out of cracks and crevices in the Reef. Their shells are also showstopping, featuring brown and black speckles with a highly contrasting cream underbelly.

Olive ridley turtle

The olive ridley turtle is the smallest marine turtle in the Great Barrier Reef, and many find it the cutest! They are also one of the less common turtle species, usually encountered in the deeper sub-tidal waters of the Reef.

Need to know what to look out for? Olive ridley turtles have a round, grey or olive-grey shell that's shaped like a heart, further adding to their reputation as one of the Reef’s most photogenic inhabitants. Hatchlings are black with a light brown under-shell, while adults have a grey shell with a cream underbelly. Olive ridleys are known to eat crabs, shellfish, starfish, and sea snails.

Leatherback turtle

The leatherback turtle holds the title of being the largest turtle species alive today. Their skin is soft rather than scaly, and they sport pastel-pink dots on their heads. Their shells are notably pointed with distinct ridges running along their backs.

While they can be found in oceans worldwide, leatherback turtles are relatively uncommon in the Reef compared to the other species on this list. As well as the Reef, these gentle giants tend to favour the waters from central eastern Australia to as far down as Tasmania! Most leatherback turtles go abroad to breed, especially in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.