The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, inhabits reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Central Atlantic oceans, and is endangered throughout its range, mostly due to hunting for the tortoiseshell trade.
It has a sharp narrow hawk-like beak, and its diet includes sponges, soft corals, shellfish, seagrass, seaweed, and jellyfish. One turtle is estimated to consume more than 1,000 pounds of sponges per year, helping to maintain reef biodiversity by preventing sponges from overgrowing corals.
Here is a video of a young hawksbill foraging on the reef. As the turtles age, their carapace tends to develop an encrusting layer of colored algae.
The olive grey shell comprises thick overlapping scales with reddish, brown, or black markings, and can grow to 80 centimeters (31 inches) in length.
Hawksbills typically do not reach maturity until they are at least 30 years old, and females usually breed only once every two to four years, laying around 120 eggs per clutch at up to six nests.
As with some other reptile species, hatchling gender is affected by nest temperature. Baby turtles swim out to the open ocean where they live for up to 10 years, feeding primarily on plankton. Eventually, they will settle to a particular reef area.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
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