FaunaHub
CRCritically EndangeredPartial review

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) swimming above a coral reef.

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
CR · Critically Endangered
Animal group
Reptiles & Amphibians
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The hawksbill is a small sea turtle of tropical reefs around the world, named for its narrow, hawk-like beak. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Hawksbills feed heavily on sponges, which shapes the make-up of the reef communities they live on.

Range & habitat

Tropical and subtropical reefs and coastal waters across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Historical and ongoing tortoiseshell trade
  • Coral-reef and nesting-beach habitat loss
  • Fisheries bycatch and egg collection

Why it matters

By grazing sponges, hawksbills help maintain the balance of coral-reef ecosystems; they were also hunted historically for the 'tortoiseshell' of their shells.

Gallery

Hawksbill turtle near a reef in the Ad Dimaniyat Islands, Oman.

A hawksbill turtle on a tropical reef.

Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Hawksbill Turtle

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are hawksbill turtles Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite the historical and ongoing tortoiseshell trade, loss of nesting beaches and reef habitat, egg collection, and fisheries bycatch.
How is the hawksbill different from other sea turtles?
Its narrow, pointed beak and overlapping shell scutes set it apart. It specialises on sponges, unlike the largely plant-eating green turtle.

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