Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata 

Habitat & Distribution :  Tropical Reefs of the Atlantic & Indo-Pacific 

Diet : Sea sponge, jellyfish, algae, sea grass, tunicates, echinoderms 

Size : 1 m 

Lifespan : 60+ years 

Description

Recognized by its narrow, pointed beak (resembling a hawk) and a strikingly colored, serrated shell 

Behavior

They primarily inhabit tropical coral reefs, where they use their pointed, hawk-like beaks to feed on sponges. They are mostly solitary, resting in reef crevices at night 

Reproduction

They reproduce every 2–4 years. They mate in shallow waters near nesting beaches, with females laying 2–5 clutches of 70–200 ping-pong ball-sized eggs per season. Eggs incubate for 50–70 days, with sex determined by sand temperature with warmer temperatures yield females. 

Communication & Perception

They communicate primarily through low-frequency sounds (chirps, grunts, rumbles) and physical interactions. These sounds, often inaudible to humans, enable hatchlings to synchronize their emergence from the nest and coordinate their initial journey to the sea. 

Predator(s)

Sharks, orcas, crocodiles