Why Do Hawksbill Turtles And What Do They Eat?
ABOUT THEM
Hawksbill turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles, well adapted to life in their marine world. With streamlined bodies and flipper-like limbs, they are graceful swimmers able to navigate across the oceans. When they are active, Hawksbill turtles must swim to the ocean surface to breathe every few minutes. When they are resting, they can remain underwater for much longer periods of time.
The hawksbill is a smaller sea turtle with a narrow head and 2 pairs of prefrontal scales in front of its eyes. It is different than other sea turtles in that its jaw is not serrated. The hawksbill bony carapace has no ridges, but has large, overlapping scales and 4 lateral scales, and the overall carapace shape is that of an ellipse. 2 claws can be seen on every flipper. The color of carapace varies from orange, brown or yellow, while hatchlings are mostly brown with pale blotches on scales. The hawksbill turtle has a distinctive parrot-like beak.
FUN FACTS …show more content…
A hawksbill turtle's diet consists mainly of sponges that live on coral reefs. Their sharp, narrow beaks are used to feed on prey found in reef crevices.Because of their sponge diet their meat is harmful to humans. Sponges have toxic chemical compounds which accumulate in the turtles tissue. If their meat is eaten it may cause serious illnesses or extreme cases, even death.
Hawksbill turtles are important inhabitants of coral reefs. By consuming sponges, they play an important role in the reef community, It’s estimated that one turtle can consume over 1,000 pounds of sponge per year. Without the turtles, sponges can overgrow corals and suffocate reefs.
With a narrow head and jaws shaped like a beak, the hawksbill can get food from crevices in coral reefs. Sponges, anemones, squid and shrimp are all what they mainly feed on as part of their diet.
Sponges make up a major part of the diet of hawksbill turtles, although they also feed on seagrasses, algae, soft corals and shellfish.
Hawksbill turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles, well adapted to life in their marine world. With streamlined bodies and flipper-like limbs, they are graceful swimmers able to navigate across the oceans. When they are active, Hawksbill turtles must swim to the ocean surface to breathe every few minutes. When they are resting, they can remain underwater for much longer periods of time.
The hawksbill is a smaller sea turtle with a narrow head and 2 pairs of prefrontal scales in front of its eyes. It is different than other sea turtles in that its jaw is not serrated. The hawksbill bony carapace has no ridges, but has large, overlapping scales and 4 lateral scales, and the overall carapace shape is that of an ellipse. 2 claws can be seen on every flipper. The color of carapace varies from orange, brown or yellow, while hatchlings are mostly brown with pale blotches on scales. The hawksbill turtle has a distinctive parrot-like beak.
FUN FACTS …show more content…
A hawksbill turtle's diet consists mainly of sponges that live on coral reefs. Their sharp, narrow beaks are used to feed on prey found in reef crevices.Because of their sponge diet their meat is harmful to humans. Sponges have toxic chemical compounds which accumulate in the turtles tissue. If their meat is eaten it may cause serious illnesses or extreme cases, even death.
Hawksbill turtles are important inhabitants of coral reefs. By consuming sponges, they play an important role in the reef community, It’s estimated that one turtle can consume over 1,000 pounds of sponge per year. Without the turtles, sponges can overgrow corals and suffocate reefs.
With a narrow head and jaws shaped like a beak, the hawksbill can get food from crevices in coral reefs. Sponges, anemones, squid and shrimp are all what they mainly feed on as part of their diet.
Sponges make up a major part of the diet of hawksbill turtles, although they also feed on seagrasses, algae, soft corals and shellfish.