As the name goes, the hawksbill sea turtle possesses a curvy bill-like mouth. Considered as the most attractive sea
turtle in the world, it has several distinctive features that are collectively used for identification purposes. Do you know about the two claws present in each flipper? And what about its characteristic scute arrangement? In fact, the species name 'imbricata' is coined with reference to its overlapping scutes. Scroll down to find more hawksbill sea turtle facts that you will find interesting.
Facts about Hawksbill Sea TurtleOf all the
different types of turtles, the hawksbill sea turtle is found to be the only one that thrives the most of its life in tropical waters. According to zoological taxonomy, its scientific name is
Eretmochelys imbricata, and it is the lone species for this genus. The order to which this turtle belong is
Testudines and family is
Cheloniidae. The adult size is less than 1 m, and it weighs about 40-60 kg. Let's learn more about this turtle species with the following hawksbill sea turtle facts for kids.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle DescriptionA small to medium sized turtle type, the
hawksbill sea turtle can be distinguished from other turtle by some distinctive features. The beak shaped mouth, presence of two flipper claws, 4 pairs of lateral scutes, alternating gait on land and two pairs of scales on the prefrontal side, all help in identifying this turtle. It also has an elongated head that tapers gradually, ending in a curved beak like structure.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle CarapaceHawksbill sea turtle facts about its decorative carapace is known to everyone. It is this attractive shell that is sold as tortoiseshell in the market. When young, it is heart shaped that slowly elongates as the turtle matures. The number of carapace in the center portion is five, while it is four on lateral sides. The lateral carapace overlaps with that of the posterior side, giving a serrated appearance in the margin.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle HabitatThe hawksbill sea turtle has a wide range of distribution, including the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The actual
sea turtle habitat differs according to life stages. Posthatchling hawksbill turtles with less swimming skills are pelagic, and thrive on sea weeds. As they become mature (about 25 cm carapace size), they look for foraging grounds in tropical waters, like coral reefs and solid substrates.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle DietSo,
what do sea turtles eat? Although hawksbill sea turtle is omnivorous, it mainly feeds on sea sponges, which accounts for more than 75 percent of the diet. Also, this reptile prefers a specific group of sponges. This selective feeding habit is a contributing factor to the declining population of hawksbill turtles. Other foods of this marine turtle include algae, sea anemones, dangerous jellyfish, crustaceans, mollusks and cnidarians.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle ReproductionThe breeding season begins around spring or summer, depending upon the subpopulation type, and lasts till November. After mating, the female crawls to the beach, and make a nesting hole by means of its flippers. One of the hawksbill sea turtle facts is long nesting period. On an average, it lasts for 6 months, during which the female lays 1-6 clutches. For this reptile, the number of eggs in one clutch is about 122-140.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle Life CycleRegarding this sea
turtle life cycle, the eggs (about 40 mm size) are deposited in sand and kept aerated. Within 60 days, they hatchlings emerge from the eggs. The hatching period and sex determination depend on the prevailing temperature. It is believed that warmer nesting sites mean more females. This sea turtle lives for about 30 years. There are reports that suggest that lifespan of this turtle can be as long as 50 years.
So, this was all about hawksbill sea turtle facts and information. Regarding the conservation status of this
kind of turtle, it is included in the critically endangered animals list. It is killed for the interest of meat and carapace collection. Natural hawksbill sea turtle predators include feral sharks, crocodiles, octopus and larger fish. Nevertheless, the main reason for decreased number of hawksbill sea turtle is largely due to human threats.
