Hawksbill
by Jean Noren
Title
Hawksbill
Artist
Jean Noren
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photograph
Description
A graceful Hawksbill turtle checks us out as he cruises by. It is always a treat to see a turtle while diving. Sometimes they can be quite friendly and hang around during an entire dive. Other times they will swim by and check you out but maintain a safe distance. They look awkward but have no problem swimming awy when they tire of your presence. The hawksbill sea turtle is a Critically Endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae, genus Eretmochelys. The species has a worldwide distribution.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered
Scientific name: Eretmochelys imbricata
They get the name “Hawksbill “ from the curved shape of their beak. Food sources are sponges and reef invertebrates. When eating stinging jellyfish, hawksbills close their unprotected eyes which are the only part of their body susceptible to the venom. Taken in Belize.
Uploaded
March 3rd, 2012
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