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April 30, 2024  |  By Matt Hamas

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle Live

Hawksbill - IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Hawksbills are smaller turtles than similarly looking green turtles

This small hawksbill turtle is drifting with the current. Adult hawksbills will grow to about three feet long and weigh around 180 pounds. This little turtle was less than a foot long. We were able to snorkel with it for a short time before the current swept him away. 

Green Sea Turtle

Hawksbill turtles have some distinct features that can help you identify them. As their name indicates, they have a pronounced bill. Hawksbills are smaller turtles than similarly looking green turtles. Green turtles can grow to four feet long and weigh over 400 pounds. Hawksbills have two pairs of plates between their eyes whereas green turtles just have one pair of plates. Additionally, hawksbills will have a more jagged edge to their shell than green turtles. If you look closely at our turtle you can see his pronounced bill and his jagged shell. You cannot see the number of plates between its eyes. 

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This photo was taken in Little Cayman. Little Cayman is one of the Cayman Islands. There are three major islands Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Little Cayman is indeed little. It is only about ten miles long by about one mile wide. There are only 161 people who live on Little Cayman (that includes seasonal works). The other two Cayman Islands (Brac and Grand) are significantly more populous. So why do people want to go to this tiny remote island? The scuba diving is top notch. It is known for Bloody Bay Wall, a world-famous dive site.   

Honu

When Columbus first stumbled upon Little Cayman and Cayman Brac in 1503 he named the islands “Las Tortugas”. Turtles are still a guarantee when you visit these islands. I saw a ton of turtles when I went to Little Cayman. Here is a close up of another turtle we encountered.

There is a non-profit research center on Little Cayman called Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI). Founded in 1998, CCMI was founded to protect the future of coral reefs through research, conservation, and education. 

When Columbus first stumbled upon Little Cayman and Cayman Brac in 1503 he named the islands “Las Tortugas”

Did you know?

  • The heaviest hawksbill on record weighed 280 pounds!
  • Little Cayman is mostly at sea level. The highest elevation is ~40’. 
  • Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered.
  • Hawksbills have a wide range and can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans!
  • Hawksbills eat a ton of sea sponges! They also eat jellyfish, sea anemones, and even Portuguese man o’ war!
This Month's Gallery
Cayman Islands diving scuba turtle underwater

Article by Matt Hamas

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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