Hawksbill Sea Turtles

1337 Words3 Pages

Imagine a world where sea turtles are extinct; did you know that was preventable? The hawksbill sea turtle population is drastically low and if action is not taken they will soon become extinct. Several factors come into play in the extinction of this species; the most evident one is their breeding behavior. Due to the natural breeding behavior of the hawksbill sea turtle and their inability to sustain a viable population, they are going extinct; however, if they were introduced into breeding programs their extinction would be prevented.
Hawksbill sea turtles, or Eretmochelys imbricata, are classified under the Cheloniidae family (Gems & Gemology 38). The scientific name, Eretmochelys imbricata, comes from the Latin word imbricatus which means "covered with tiles" (38); the plates of the hawksbills carapace overlap one another like the tiles of a roof. The hawksbill turtle gets it common name because of its beak like appendage on its face.
This beak like appendage is an important feature of the hawksbill turtle because it is needed in order to eat some of the hard food that consists of its diet. Hawksbills sustain themselves on sponges, mollusks, and other sedentary animals (OCEANA). The hawksbill uses its beak like jaws to get food out of the crevices in coral reefs (Seaturltes911).An interesting fact about the hawksbills diet is that they are the only sea turtle that can actually eat glass. They use their jaws to break apart the glass and safely eat it (JBHP). The consumption of glass sustains the turtle and balances the ecosystem.
Hawksbill sea turtles are in danger of extinction, and because of that they are listed as critically endangered under the Endangered Species Act (OCEANA). Several factors ar...

... middle of paper ...

...ety. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
Kamel, Stephanie Jill, and N. Mrosovsky. “Repeatability of nesting preferences in the hawksbill sea turtle, < i> Eretmochelys imbricate, and their fitness consequences.” Animal Behaviour 70.4 (2005) 819-828.
Parker, Denise M., et al “Short-Range Movements Of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys Imbricata) From Nesting to Foraging Areas Within The Hawaiian Islands.” Pacific Science 63.3 (2009): 371-382. Academic Search Elite. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
Walcott, J., S. Eckert, and J.Horrocks. “Tracking Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys Imbricata) During Inter-Nesting Intervals Around Barbados.” Marine Biology 159.4 (2012): 927-938. Academic Search Elite. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
"New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide." Wildlife Field Guide for New Jersey's Endangered and Threatened Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Open Document