Not seeing a Scroll to Top Button? Go to our FAQ page for more info.
Home > Turtles > Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill sea turtles are a species of marine turtles distributed worldwide. They are the only surviving species in the genus Eretmochelys. They are omnivorous. The species derived its name from having a narrow head that terminates in a sharp point much like a bird’s beak.



    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Class Reptilia
    Order Testudines
    Family Cheloniidae
    Genus Eretmochelys
    Scientific Name Eretmochelys imbricata


    Size Around 1 meter
    Weight Around 80 kg; heaviest recorded specimen weighed 127 kg
    Color Shell is amber with non-uniform mix of light and dark streaks, with mainly black and spotted brown color radiating to the sides
    Distribution South Africa, Brazilian coast, southern Florida, Virginia, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Cuba, east coast of Africa,  southern Asian coast, northern Australia,  Philippines, Hawaii, Seychelles, Baja Peninsula in Mexico, southern Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ecuador
    Habitat Tropical coral reefs, open ocean, lagoons
    Diet Mainly sea sponges, also feed on algae, cnidarians, jellyfish, sea anemones
    Predators Large fishes, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses
    Breeding Season Atlantic population mate between April and November whereas Indian Ocean population mate from September to February
    Mode of Reproduction Oviparous (egg laying)
    Clutch Size Around 140 eggs
    Incubation Period Around 60 days
    Reproductive Age May attain sexual maturity at around 3 years of age
    Average Lifespan 30 to 50 years
    IUCN Conservation Status Critically Endangered

    Hawksbill Sea Turtle Pictures Gallery

    Published on October 27th 2016 by under Turtles. Article was last reviewed on 12th June 2019.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *