Hawksbill Sea Turtle Identification

Video Transcript

"The marine creature we are going to identify now, is the Hawksbill Turtle. Hawksbill Turtles are probably the most common turtle that one will see snorkeling or scuba diving on the reefs around the Caribbean. But encounters are not that common as these turtles are pretty endangered due to over fishing, harvesting of the eggs by man and other animals, and the destruction of nesting sites by developers of beach front homes, condos and hotels. They were also harvested for many years for their shells, which, was the primary source of tortoise shell material used for decorative purposes, such as hair combs, eye glass frames and so on. Hawksbill Turtles are a medium sized marine turtle. They can reach a length of about three feet and weigh between ninety five and a hundred and sixty five pounds. The largest one every caught, weighed in at about two hundred and eighty pounds. Their shells are usually brown to yellow brown on the back, and a light yellow on the underside. The back of their shell often appears to have a serrated edge. Finally, their mouth further distinguishes it from other marine turtles. The upper part of the mouth overhangs the lower and is somewhat pointed given it a hawk like appearance to its mouth. Hawksbill Turtles are found in the shallow lagoons and in coral reefs, although it does spend a portion of its life in the open ocean. Hawksbill Turtles feed on sponges preferentially but also will eat comb jellies and jelly fish. Hawksbill Turtles mate bi-yearly, usually from April to November. They mate in shallow lagoons and remote locations off the shore of their preferred nesting ground. After mating, the female turtle hauls out of the water and crawls up on the beach where it digs a hole and into which it deposits a hundred and forty eggs. After covering the newly laid eggs with sand, the female returns to the water and the eggs are left alone until they hatch at night, about two months later. The newborn turtles are on their own to dig out of the sand mass, and make it to the ocean before predators devour them. That's the Hawksbill Turtle."