Description
The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is named for their narrow, pointy head. These turtles can be found in tropical and sub-tropical oceans worldwide, often spotted in coral reefs. These sea turtles have beautiful, vibrant shells with serrated shell, where plates overlap running down the side of the shell. Their diet consists predominantly of sea sponges, jellyfish, sea grass, and algae. They are an important member of the coral reef ecosystem for maintaining the number of sea sponges.
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Fact Sheet
Habitat
Hawksbill turtles live in warm water tropical and subtropical climates along the equator worldwide. Found around coral reefs eating on sea grass and algae, they can be seen out at sea when traveling vast distances to nesting beaches.
Diet
Diet consists of sea sponges, jellyfish, sea grass, and algae which they eat off the coral reefs with their beak-like mouth. These turtles are key to the removal and numbers of sea sponges on coral reefs. As these turtles mature, their diet is predominately seagrass and algae.
Appearance
The Hawksbill Turtle has a shell that is green-olive and brownish, with shades of amber, yellow and red. This hard-shell provides protection to predators. Their pointy, narrow head gives the turtle its name. They have flippers for swimming and a streamlined body.
Key Features
- Most recognizable for its jagged, serrated shell and vibrant scaled shell.
- You can distinguish a green turtle from its pointy head and narrow beak.
Threats
IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Egg Harvest
They are affected by the illegal harvest of their eggs for human consumption. This affects the number of hatchlings repopulating the Hawksbill Turtle’s numbers.
Climate Change
Climate change has caused and causing ocean and land changes, including sea rise impacting nesting beaches. Increasing beach sand temperatures can cause only females to be born. Depleting coral reefs and ecosystems affect food sources.
Fishing / Poaching
Threatened by illegal poaching for shells and meat and entanglement in fishing nets and bycatch in fishing gear.
Loss Of Habitat
Female turtles navigate to specific beaches to nest and lay eggs. Coastal developments are destroying and polluting beaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adults feed on sea sponges, sea grass, and algae which is eaten off of coral reefs.
Adults can grow up to approximately 1.1m long and weigh approximately 50kg.
Hawksbill Turtles are not aggressive unless threatened, although take sensitive precautions.
