If there was beauty prize for turtles, the Hawksbill would be Miss Universe. Its beautiful shell has always been highly sought after for its lustrous tortoiseshell jewelry and other ornaments. The shell is so beautiful that it has been harvested by everyone from Egyptians to the Romans, ancient Chinese, Arabs, and American Indians. Thankfully though, plastic imitations of tortoiseshells have largely replaced the real thing.

The carapace of the Hawksbill is amber-colored with streaks of yellow or reddish and blackish brown. The black shields are translucent when removed from the shell. They also hold a high polish. The Hawksbill is of only modest size: its carapace is normally under three feet and the adults average 100 – 120 pounds. The largest Hawksbill ever recorded was a 280 pound animal taken at Grand Cayman.

The Hawksbill gained its name from its jaw, although the beak, while certainly beak like does not hook like that of a raptor. All sea turtles have horny beaks, but the hawksbills head is so narrow that it has a particularly bird-like aspect. The Hawksbills paddle shaped front flippers each have two claws.

The turtle will mature at about 80 pounds; and less in some parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Living throughout the Caribbean, Hawksbills are rarely found north of Florida and are scarce even in Florida. The best way to see the Hawksbill is during the day.

These turtles consume both sea grasses and small animals, but their favorite meal appears to be sponges. Because sponges are made from numerous small glasslike slivers its not quite clear how the hawksbill can gain much from, or even tolerate such a diet. But then again, the huge leatherback also eats solely watery jellyfish, a mystery too.

The nesting behavior of the Hawksbill is generally similar to that of the green turtle, and the two sometimes share nesting beaches. Yet, hawksbills have the ability to nest where green turtles and others can not. These turtles are able to climb over rocks and debris that would turn over other turtles. They move quite briskly on land , and “walk” rather than “lunge forward”.

Overall Hawksbill populations are extremely reduced, and the nests are uncommon. Scientist also know less about them then any other of the species that nest within the U.S.