Hawksbill+Sea+Turtle

media type="custom" key="3506978" By Taylor H.

The Hawksbill turtle is a small to medium-sized compared to other sea turtle species. Adults weigh about 100-150 on average, but can grow as large as 200 lbs. Hatchlings weigh about 0.5 oz. Hawksbills are found throughout the tropical waters of the Alantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They avoid deep waters, preferring coastlines where sponges are abundant and and sandy nesting sites are in beach. The Hawksbill sea turtles are facing threats on both nesting and marine environment. Hawksbill turtles rely on coral reefs for food recources and habitat. Recent evidence suggests that global climate change is negatively impacting coral reefs by causing higher incidences of coral diseases. The Hawksbills are normally found near reefs rich in sponges they like to feed on. Hawksbills are omnivorous and will also eat mollusks, marine algea, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish and jelly fish. There hard shells protect them from predators, but they still are prey to large fish, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses, and humans. In order to succeed in keeping Hawksbills in existence, there must be cooperation among all nations that have Hawksbill populations in thier waters.