Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus 1766

hawksbill turtle

The hawksbills are omnivores eating molluscs, crustaceans, sponges, soft corals and algae.

Apart from when they are breeding, turtles are fairly solitary. Turtles seem to be fairly comfortable with swimmers and divers, although they can move with surprising speed.

Hawksbills used to be hunted to provide “tortoiseshell”.

Family = Cheloniidae

Max size = 90cm

Distribution = worldwide, tropical to temperate