Hawksbill Turtle
Under the sea by Basan6
Description
Classification:
Animal, mammal, vertebrate, reptile
Special body covering:
Turtle have hard shells which help protect them against predetors.
Lifespan:
Estimated to be around 30 to 50 years
Size:
24 to 45 in (62.5 to 114 cm)
Weight:
100 to 150 lbs (45 to 68 kg)
Communication:
Scientists are not sure how they communicate but believe they use sight and sound.
Unusal characteristics:
- Females return to the beaches where they were born to nest.
(NG ; TQ ; SP-image)
Habitat
Location:
Tropical reefs of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific ocean.
Climate:
Tropical
(THTurtle)
Adaptation
Structures:
They have shells for protection.
They also have short, sturdy and webbed feet and have long claws.
They have a sharp beak instead of teeth
Behavior:
They have lungs so they come above the water surface every 4-5 hours to breathe.
(SP ; ST)
Food chain
- sponges (most of the time)
- marine algea
- sea urchins
- fish
Where does the endangered species find food:
- near reefs
- shallow coastal waters
Predator:
- Humans
- sharks
- crocodiles
- large fish
- octopi
(AMD ; Hawks)
Reasons for endangerment
- Habitat loss of coral reef communities
- Eggs and meat
- Demand for turtle shells, leather, oil, perfume, cosmetics
- Loss of beaches
- Some get tangled in fishing traps
(AHST ; NPS)
Critical information
What is being done to help them:
- Listed in 1996 as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
- Listed endangered in 1970 by the United States Endangered Species Act (US. ESA).
- The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) has forbided the trade of turtle products in the international market.
- Their exact population is unknown but they are listed as endangered.
With this, you'll save another generation of Hawksbill Turtles.
(ACM ; EI ; KT ; NPS)
Bibliography
- "Along Came Myrtle" Along Came Myrtle Pt. 3. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.coconut-court.com/blog/along-came-myrtle-pt-3/>.
- "Aqua Marine Discovery." : Sponges. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://aquamarinediscovery.blogspot.com/2008/09/sponges.html>.
- "Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle." Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/esa_works/profile_pages/AtlanticHawksbillSeaTurtle.html>.
- "Eretmochelys Imbricata." (Hawksbill Turtle). Web. 28 May 2012. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/8005/0>.
- "Hawksbill Sea Turtle." National Geographic. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/hawksbill-turtle/>.
- "Hawksbill Sea Turtle Pictures| SeaPics.com." Hawksbill Sea Turtle Pictures Photos Images Searches | SeaPics.com. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://seapics.com/gallery/Reptilia/Testudines/Cryptodira/Chelonioidea/Cheloniidae/hawksbill-sea-turtle-search.html>.
- "Hawksbill Sea Turtle." The Kid's Times. Web. 29 May 2012.
- "The Hawksbill Turtle" Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.turtles.org/hawksd.htm>.
- National Parks Service. National Parks Service, 27 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.nps.gov/havo/naturescience/turtles.htm>.
- "SEA TURTLES - Diet & Eating Habits." Animals. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/sea-turtle/diet.htm>.
- "Sea Turtles." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01006/seaturtles.htm>.