Hawksbill Sea Turtle Conservation in Punta Dumalag

Status

ESA Endangered - throughout its range
CITES Appendix I - throughout its range

Species Description

Weight:	Adult: 100-150 pounds (45-70 kg) Hatchling: 0.5 ounces (15 g)
Length:	25-35 inches (65-90 cm)
Appearance:	top shell (carapace) is dark to golden brown, with streaks of orange, red, and/or black with a serrated back and overlapping "scutes", while the bottom shell (plastron) is clear yellow; hatchlings are mostly brown
Lifespan:	unknown
Diet:	sponges and other invertebrates, algae
Behavior:	females return to the beaches where they were born (natal beaches) to nest, which occurs every 2-3 years at night and approximately every 14-16 days during the nesting season

Threats habitat loss of coral reef communities harvest of their eggs and meat commercial exploitation (historically, but still permitted in some parts of the world) increased recreational and commercial use of nesting beaches in the Pacific incidental capture in fishing gear general threats to marine turtles