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Blog about diving in Burma and Thailand

The hawksbill turtle: the critically endangered sea turtle

22/9/2021

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The hawksbill turtles, presentation of an endangered species...
While critically endangered, The Hawksbill Turtles are the most frequently encountered turtles on our cruises, today let's learn about hawk-billed turtle or Eretmochelys imbricata...
​
All Sea Turtles, are cold-blooded creatures, belonging to the reptile family, just like snakes, crocodiles or dinosaurs!
1. Where can you see Hawkbill turtles?
2. How to tell Hawkbill turtles from the others?
3. What do Hawksbill turtles eat?
4. Hawksbill turtle reproduction
5. Is the hawksbill turtle threatened?

Where can you see Hawkbill turtles?

Hawk-billed turtle, the only representative of the genus Eretmochelys, lives in the subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is therefore quite possible to cross it in the Andaman Sea, in the midst of coral reefs. In Thailand, they can be seen both in the North Andaman (Surin and Similan islands) and South Andaman. 
Hawksbill turtles are amongst the smallest of the seven species of sea turtles. They measures between 76 and 89 cm and weighs an average of 40 to 69 kg.
​As a migratory species, they have a wide range of habitats, from the open ocean to lagoons and even mangroves in estuaries. In the early stages of their lives, like other young sea turtles, they live a pelagic life, staying at sea until they mature enough to settle down.
Adult hawksbill turtles are mainly found in tropical coral reefs.

How to tell Hawkbill turtles from the others?

Hawksbill turtles and green turtles, are both commonly seen in the Andaman Sea and hard to tell them apart at first sight. Here are a few tips to differentiate them:
Hawkbill turtle VS green turtle: Sea turtle identification infographic
How to identify the Hawksbill turtle

Sea Turtle's face identification:​ Hawksbill VS Green turtle

Hawksbill turtles have a beak, while green turtles have a round face. 
The hawksbill turtle has a hooked beak
The hawksbill turtle has a hooked beak
The green turtle's beak is rounded
The green turtle's beak is rounded
sea turtle identification, hawksbill head
Hawksbill turtle have 2 pairs of prefrontal scales
On top of their head, Hawkbills turtles have four little square in between their eye while green turtle have two. These squares are called prefrontale scales.
sea turtle identification, green turtle head
Green turtles have one pair of frontal scales
identify hawsbill turtle from the top of the head
Hawksbill turtles's nostrils are turned up
identify the head of a green turtle
Green turtles's nostrils are a lot more forward
The turtle's nose is also a good differentiation factor: those of Hawksbills looks upward, on top of their beak while green turtle's nose is forward, on the front of their face. When looking at a tutle from the front you would see the green's nostrils a lot more.

Sea Turtle's Shell identification:​ ​Hawksbill VS Green turtle

The carapace of the sea turtles are also a good way to tell them appart. The shape of the green turtle is rounder with squales next to each other and a soft edge, while the hawksbill turtle is more hear-shaped with squales overlapping each other and the edge is serrated, like a saw.
Beautiful green turtle carapace
Green turtle's shell has a soft edge and squales do not overlap
baby hawksbill on the left VS baby green turtle on the right
baby hawksbill on the left VS baby green turtle on the right
Hawkbill turtle shell
Hawksbill turtle shell has a serrated edge and squales overlap
Beautiful Hawkbill turtle by Franck Fogarolo
The carapace colour doesn't help identification but this carapace is serrated, means it is a Hawksbill

Sea Turtle's Flippers identification:​ ​Hawksbill VS Green turtle


​It is not often easy to spot but Hawksbill turtles forelimbs have two claws on each fin, while green turtles only display one.
​
The second claw is fairly small though and hard to notice.
Hawksbill turtles front flippers identification
Hawksbill turtles have two claws on their front flippers

Hawksbill turtle VS Green turtle identification:  belly shot

green turtle belly shot
Green turtle Belly
Hawksbill turtle belly
Hawksbill turtle belly
If you have a photo of a turtle from bellow and you are trying to find out if it is a green or a Hawkbill turtle, the shape will be your best friend.
The Hawksbill turtle has a longer neck, and serrated carapace (looks closely in between the two back flipper) you may also see its beak!

What do Hawksbill turtles eat?

The hawksbill turtle is one of the few animals known to feed on sponges and is the only known spongivorous reptile. This diet make them very important to avoid sponges overtaking the reef.
Turtles do not have teeth, but a powerful jaw and a hooked beak allowing it to “tear” its prey.
Hawksbill turtle eating sponge on the reef
Hawksbill turtles are omnivorous, beside sponges, they can also feed on anemones and jellyfish,  mollusks or sea urchins. Most of these are toxic but do not make them ill, it is however believed that their meat is poisonous to humans.

​​Small reminder: Turtles do not have teeth, but a powerful jaw and a hooked beak allowing it to “tear” its prey.

Hawksbill turtle reproduction

Like most sea turtles, Hawksbill live a solitary life meeting only for reproduction. This turtle mates and returns to the beach where it was born, every two or three years, to lay eggs...
The hawksbill turtle digs a hole in the sand at night where it lays more than a hundred eggs.  
After about two months, these eggs will hatch. The little ones will then have to try to get back to the ocean quickly, at they risk of being eaten by birds or crabs!
Did you know? The temperature of the nest during the 60 days incubation will determine the sex of the litter! Cooler sand leads to more males hatching and vice versa.

Is the hawksbill turtle threatened?

Yes ! The hawk-billed turtle is now critically endangered. They are believed to be the most endangered of the seven species of sea turtle, with only approximately 8,000 nesting females left globally. Its beautiful carapace has been used by jewellers and for home decoration for thousands of years. Ghost fishing, by catch and sea trash are also a major treat to these gorgeous animals.

It is estimated that millions of hawksbill turtles died in the 20th century due to carapace trade. Additionally, hawk-billed turtle eggs are still eaten across the globe, and turtles themselves are killed for their flesh.
Plastic bag floating in the sea...
Plastic bag floating in the sea...
Not only do we destroy the reefs they feed on, but they cannot find a quiet beach to lay their eggs anymore and many sea turtles dye eating plastic.
​
It is estimated that one in two turtles has already eaten plastic, a plastic bag that floats in water can be easily identified as a jellyfish by the turtle but is a lot harder to digest...

Picture

You want to know more about Sea turtles?
Read this too


​Green turtles have green flesh and other interesting facts about this wonderful sea turtle



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Camille Fogarolo 

Camille has been traveling the world since her mid twenties and dived many seas before finally settling down in Thailand in 2012. With her husband Franck, they opened The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard to offer cruises in the most unexplored area of South East Asia and became quite the experts when it comes to diving in Myanmar! Proud mother of two she still travels as much as she can and usually joins a dive trip to Mergui Archipelago every month.

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  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand >
        • Phuket & Koh Phi Phi National Parks
        • Koh Lanta National Park
        • Koh Lipe and Tarutao National Park
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Diving in Thailand
    • Diving in Myanmar/Burma
    • Itineraries
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • Guest Book
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Special Expeditions >
      • Ultimate Underwater photo combo expeditions
      • Video & photo expedition North Andaman 05 Nov 2023
      • Blackwater expedition 23 Jan 2024
      • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
      • Special Marine Biology - 18 Feb 2024
      • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
      • Manta rays expedition - 20 April 2024
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts