Green turtles mating. Pair of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) mating. The male mounts the female and wraps his tail underneath her shell. After mating, the female will return to the beach where she was born to lay her eggs. A female reproduces only once every three years but can retain enough sperm in her reproductive passages to lay seven clutches, laid about two weeks apart. Each clutch can contain up to 115 eggs. Little is known about the reproductive biology of the male green turtle. Photographed off Palau Sipadan, Malaysia.