Hawksbill Sea Turtle

News Hundreds of Endangered Sea Turtles Found Dead Off Mexico

The animals may have died as a result of a "ghost net," a lost piece of fishing gear. The incident follows a mass death earlier in August.

Follow Video Saving The Leatherback Turtle Marine Conservationist, Marie-Louise, travels to a near by beach to educate local fisherman about ways they can reduce the number of turtles that end up in their nets as by-catch.

News Police Raid What May Be Europe's Biggest Illegal Turtle Farm

Spanish authorities have dismantled the facility, which contained 1,100 animals and 14 of the 50 most endangered turtle species.

Follow Video The Sea Turtles Worst Predator The sea grass of the Great Barrier Reef beckons sea turtles. By hovering low they are protected by their shell to most predators. But tiger sharks are a different story.

News Stench Leads to Home Crawling With Stolen Tortoises—10,000 of Them

A gruesome discovery by authorities in Madagascar highlights a grave threat to a highly endangered species of tortoise.

News Two-Headed Baby Turtle Swims to Sea—Will It Survive?

A turtle with two heads was found in Florida, but whether it will survive the treacherous journey to adulthood remains to be seen.

News 13 Graceful Pictures of Rare Sea Turtles

On World Sea Turtle Day, see photos of one of the most vulnerable animal populations on Earth, some of which are near extinction.

News New Ocean Reserve, Largest in Africa, Protects Whales and Turtles

Gabon’s announcement also restricts overfishing and may help with climate resilience.

News Fishing Gear is Killing Hundreds and Thousands of Whales, Seals and Turtles

640,000 tonnes of ‘ghost gear’ litters our oceans every year

News How do Animals Have Sex Underwater?

Speed, angle, and agility combat the difficulties of aquatic mating.

News This Turtle Tourist Centre Also Raises Endangered Turtles for Meat

Animal advocates accuse the Cayman Turtle Centre of mistreating its sea turtles and stoking demand for the meat of an endangered species, claims it denies.

News There Are Only 3 of These Turtles Left on Earth

And conservationists are desperately searching for a fourth.

About Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill turtles are found throughout the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They avoid deep waters, preferring coastlines where sponges are abundant and sandy nesting sites are within reach.

They are normally found near reefs rich in the sponges they like to feed on. Hawksbills are omnivorous and will also eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, and jellyfish. Their hard shells protect them from many predators, but they still fall prey to large fish, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses, and humans.

Fast Facts

Type: Reptile

Diet: Carnivore

Average life span in the wild: 30 to 50 years (est.)

Size: 24 to 45 in (62.5 to 114 cm)

Weight: 100 to 150 lbs (45 to 68 kg)

Did you know? Young hawksbill turtles are unable to dive deep and spend their early years floating amongst sea plants near the water’s surface.

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