Species Spotlight: Hawksbills

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Email

example@example.com

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What country, region, or state are you joining us from?

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Key Vocabulary Terms

Review the key terms below in order to answer the quiz questions and unlock some of our favorite hawksbill photos!

Endangered species: a species of animal or plant that is at serious risk of extinction

Threatened species: any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant part of its range

Extinct: when a species no longer exists; when the last member of a species dies

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Hawksbill sea turtles are named after what characteristic?

The food they eat

The shape of their jaw

Their eyesight

The pattern on their shell

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Hawksbill sea turtles are named after the shape of their jaw, which is pointed similar to a hawk (the bird). The image below is of a hawksbill sea turtle patient that was treated by The Sea Turtle Hospital at LMC in 2017. (Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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Which of the following photos is of a Hawksbill sea turtle?

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The third photo is of a Hawksbill sea turtle! You can tell by the beak-like mouth, speckled coloration, and overlapping scutes.(Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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What is the conservation status of Hawksbill sea turtles?

Endangered

Threatened

Extinct

Unknown

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Hawksbill sea turtles are considered Endangered throughout their range.The Endangered status under the Endangered Species Act refers to a species that is at a high risk of extinction. (Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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Which of the following are threats to the Hawksbill sea turtle population?

Habitat loss

Bycatch in fishing gear

Illegal hunting

Ocean pollution

Boat strikes

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Habitat loss, bycatch in fishing gear, illegal hunting, ocean pollution, and boat strikes are ALL considered threats to the Hawksbill sea turtle. According to NOAA Fisheries, the main global threat to hawksbill sea turtles is the loss of habitat due to coastal development and the loss of coral reef communities. (Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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What do Hawksbill sea turtles primarily eat?

Fish

Crustaceans

Jellyfish

Sea sponges

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Hawksbill sea turtles primarily eat sea sponges!Although they prefer sea sponges, they are known to eat fish, jellyfish, and crustaceans occasionally, as well. (Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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In which habitat do Hawksbill sea turtles live?

Offshore habitats

Sand flats

Coral reefs

Seagrass beds

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Hawksbill sea turtles live in coral reef habitats!Hawksbill sea turtles are also known to inhabit nearshore mangrove habitats in certain parts of their range, as well. (Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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Hawksbill sea turtles were heavily hunted and harvested for their shells in order to make what?

Medicines

Clothing

Ivory

"Tortoise shell" jewelry and trinkets

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Hawksbill sea turtles were heavily hunted and harvested for their shells in order to make "tortoise shell" jewelry and trinkets.For this reason, hawksbill sea turtles were nearly driven to extinction. Although they are now protected under CITES (The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), illegal hunting still occurs in many parts of the world. (Image credit: Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

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