Hawksbill sea turtle

The hawksbill sea turtle or hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is an endangered species of turtle. It is mostly seen in shallow lagoons and coral reefs where its food is. It is smaller than the Australian flatback turtle: it is usually a little more than two feet long.

Hawksbill sea turtle Temporal range: Miocene to recent[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Expression error: Unexpected < operator. Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Eretmochelys imbricata
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Chelonioidea
Family:	Cheloniidae
Subfamily:	Cheloniinae
Genus:	Eretmochelys Fitzinger, 1843
Species:	E. imbricata
Binomial name
Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766
Subspecies
E. i. imbricata E. i. bissa
Range of the Hawksbill turtle

It usually weighs about 150 pounds. It has the most pointed beak among sea turtles, which is how it gets its name. The hawksbill gets food from inside coral reefs, eating sponges, shrimp, squid, and other invertebrates.^[3] The hawksbill pointy beak helps the turtle get food out of the tiny cracks and holes in which it searches. Though they are sometimes seen in American waters, hawksbill turtles almost always nest in the warmer climates that run along the equator. Because people use the shell to make jewelry and other things, the hawksbill turtle is endangered.

Description

Adults are typically 1 meter (3 ft) long, weighing up to 80 kg (180 lb) on average. Larger ones can weigh up to 127 kg (280 lb).^[4] This species was originally named Testudo imbricata in 1766. It was moved to the genus Eretmochelys in 1843.

There are two known subspecies within the species Eretmochelys imbricata: Eretmochelys imbrica imbrica and Eretmochelys imbrica brissa.^[3][4]

Diet

Hawksbill sea turtle is a ornivorous species that feeds mainly on sea sponges. They can also feed on small octopuses, sea snails and algae.^[5]