Species profile

Name: the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.

Appearance: they are similar to other turtles although they can be easily distinguished by their sharp, curving beaks and the saw-like pattern on their shells.

Size: adults typically grow to around 1 metre in length and weigh up to 80 kg.

Diet:  sea sponges make up between 70–95% of their diets although they also feed on algae, jellyfish, and sea anemones.

Did you know: hawksbills are caught by humans throughout the world even though it is illegal to do so. They have been eaten as delicacies since the fifth century BC and have been harvested for their beautiful shells (known as tortoiseshell) since Egyptian times. Due to continued hunting from humans, the hawksbill population has declined 80 percent in the past 100 years and they are now critically endangered.

Location: hawksbills are mainly found in the tropical reefs of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. 

BEST PLACES TO SEE hawksbill SEA TURTLES

According to reports submitted to WildSide, the best places to see hawksbill sea turtles are as follows:

Photo credit: Tchami, under a Creative Commons license from Flickr