Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

 

The Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of commercial tortoiseshell. The beautiful carapace is generally streaked and marbled with amber, yellow or brown and often has a strongly serrated edge ⁽⁵⁾. The strongly hooked beak on the narrow head gives rise to the hawksbill turtle's common name ⁽⁶⁾. Unlike other marine turtles, the scales (scutes) of the hawksbill turtle’s carapace are imbricate, or overlapping, hence the scientific name 'imbricata' ⁽⁷⁾.

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