The
hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea
turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. Hawksbills are named for their
narrow, pointed beak. It is the only extant species in the genus Eretmochelys.
The
hawksbill sea turtle also have a distinctive pattern of overlapping scales on
their shells that form a serrated-look on the edges. These colored and
patterned shells make them highly-valuable and commonly sold as
"tortoiseshell" in markets.
Adult
hawksbill sea turtles have been known to grow up to 1 m (3 ft) in length,
weighing around 80 kg (180 lb) on average. The heaviest hawksbill ever captured
was measured to be 127 kg (280 lb).
Hawksbill
sea turtles have a wide range, found predominantly in tropical reefs of the Indian,
Pacific, and Atlantic
Oceans . Of all the sea
turtle species, E. imbricata is the one most associated with warm tropical
waters. Two major subpopulations are acknowledged to exist, the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific subpopulations.
Quick
Facts about the hawksbill sea turtle:
Type:
Reptile
Diet:
Carnivore
Average
life span in the wild: 30 to 50 years (EST.)
Size:
24 to 45 in (62.5 to 114 cm)
Weight:
100 to 150 lbs (45 to 68 kg)
Protection
status: Endangered
Size:
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m)
Like
many sea turtles, hawksbills are a critically endangered species due mostly to
human impact. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite the
turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their
flesh and their stunning shells. These graceful sea turtles are also threatened
by accidental capture in fishing nets.
While
they are omnivorous, sea sponges are the principal food of hawksbill sea
turtles. Sponges constitute 70–95% of their diets in the Caribbean .
However, like many spongivores, they feed only on select species, ignoring many
others. Some of the sponges they eat, such as Aaptos aaptos, Chondrilla nucula,
Tethya actinia, Spheciospongia vesparium, and Suberites domuncula, are highly
(often lethally) toxic to other organisms.
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