Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Oceans 5 dive resort released yesterday another 10 Hawksbill sea turtles. They have been for 6 months at Oceans 5 and they are big enough to join the free ocean.

In the beginning they didnt understood their freedom. It took some time for time to find their way to the water and the way in the water. But finally all found it and hopefully we will see them one day underwater.

Description:

Adults weight in at 30 to nearly 100 kg. Shell length typically ranges from 25 to 35 inches throughout the species’ global range, making it the smallest of the sea turtles, with the exception of the Ridleys. The hawksbill gets its common name from its narrow face and bird-like beak. Carapace color is tortoiseshell, ranging from golden to dark brown with red, black and orange streaks. The posterior edge is serrated, especially in young animals and the scutes overlap one another like shingles on a roof.  Each flipper usually bears 2 claws. Hawksbills are the most tropical of the sea turtles, often associated with healthy coral reefs.

Diet:

Hawksbills specialize on sponges (obligate spongivores) with comparatively minor contributions by other benthic invertebrates. Remarkably scientists are finding that even when surrounded by dozen of species of sponge, the hawksbill will preferentially feed on only a handful of species. The hooked beak of this animal is well adapted for probing into holes and crevices in search of its prey.

Nesting:

Hawksbills can because of the small size and agility of this animal to climb onto rockier coastlines than other sea turtles in search of nesting beaches. The species has declined dramatically in many places, resulting in fewer females returning to their nesting beaches.
 
 

In general, the nestings occur at 14-16 day intervals; females do not tend to nest in consecutive years. The eggs are small, about the size of a ping pong ball, and 200 or more may be laid at one time.

Population status:

Classified as “Critically endangered”, the hawksbill is among the most endangered of all sea turtles. Global population have been severely depleted due over harvest, and a significant part of this harvest has been for products made from their shell.