Named for its sharp, pointed beak, the hawksbill feeds primarily on reef sponges, invertebrate organisms whose bodies contain tiny indigestible glass needles. The hawksbill has a beautiful, translucent shell, which has long been exploited for use in tortoiseshell jewelry. Though international trade of tortoiseshell has been prohibited, illegal trafficking continues.
Distribution:
- Circumglobal
- Nesting areas in tropics,
- Non-nesting range is generally restricted to tropical regions, although during immature stages it extends to sub-tropical regions
Size:
Adults
Length 75-90 cm
Mass up to 150 kg
Hatchlings
Length approximately 30 mm
Mass approximately 5 g
Diet:
Large juveniles and adults predominantly eat sponges and other sessile invertebrates associated with coral reefs and rocky reefs
Reproduction:
- Reproduce every 2-4 years
- Lay 2-5 clutches of eggs per season
- Lay 120-200 eggs per clutch
- Ping-pong ball size eggs with approximately 25-30
- Incubation period is approximately 60 days long
Facts:
- Hawksbills are the only marine consumer whose diet predominantly comprises sponges, and thus play a major role in tropical, coral reef ecosystems
- Hawksbills commonly nest within beach vegetation on secluded, low-energy beaches
- Hawksbills in the Eastern Pacific are probably the most endangered sea turtle population in the world.
