The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a medium-sized sea turtle named for its narrow, pointed beak, which allows it to reach into crevices in coral reefs to feed on sponges. Adults typically weigh between 100 and 150 pounds and are distinguished by their richly patterned, overlapping scutes, a feature unique among sea turtles. Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the species has declined by an estimated 80 percent over the last three generations, driven by the illegal trade in its shell, egg collection, entanglement in fishing gear, and the degradation of the coral reef and beach habitats it depends on.
Hawksbill Turtles play a measurable role in coral reef health: by controlling sponge populations, they allow corals to compete more effectively for space on the reef. They nest on tropical beaches across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, often returning to the same beaches where they were born. Key nesting sites include beaches in the Caribbean, the Coral Triangle of Southeast Asia, and along the coasts of northern Australia. The species is also threatened by climate change, which skews hatchling sex ratios toward females as sand temperatures rise, and by the loss of nesting beaches to coastal development.
