(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - turtle, hawksbill sea
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 05/16/84
AOU CODE - 04/24/85
09/29/88
11/18/88
CATEGORY - Reptiles
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Reptilia,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Testudinata,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Cheloniidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Eretmochelys,
SPECIES AND SSP - imbricata,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Eretmochelys imbricata
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 1046
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
This species is also known as carey *1046*. The position of this species is
questionable and some taxonomists place it closer to the loggerhead while
others place it closer to the green turtle *8850*.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Plan approved by Director
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 1046, 828, 8850 and 274
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
A problem with conservation exists since marine turtles are migratory and
may occupy territorial waters of more than one nation as well as inter-
national waters. Because this species is not a colonial nester, population
estimates are exceedingly difficult to make. Decreased populations are due
to 1) destruction or modification of habitat, 2) Overutilization for com-
mercial, scientific or educational purposes, 3) inadequate regulatory
mechanisms, 4) disease and/or predation, and 5) pollution and incidental
catch *8850*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001, 131, 810, CB1 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - 001, 131, 810, CB1 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - H
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
TERRESTRIAL
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 1046
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
Barren Land
Beaches
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 1046
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, intertidal RF1
Marine, intertidal AB2
Marine, intertidal BB2
Marine, intertidal UB3
Estuarine, intertidal RF2
Estuarine, intertidal AB2
Estuarine, intertidal BB2
Estuarine, intertidal UB3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 1046 and 1027
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Hawksbills are a circumpolar species, preferring warm shallow water areas
that are usually less than 50 feet deep. Coral reefs, lagoons, shoals, and
bays with good populations of plants and animals are ideal habitats.*91*
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
This species has been implicated in poisonings of people who eat their
flesh, probably from some item in the diet (algae or sponges) that produce
the toxin *8850*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Omnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 1046 and 1027
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Plants Not Applicable
General Chlorophyta Not Applicable
General Animals Not Applicable
General Sponges Not Applicable
General Scyphozoans Not Applicable
General Tusk Shells Not Applicable
General Crustaceans Not Applicable
General Echinoderms Not Applicable
General Sea Cucumbers Not Applicable
General Cirripeds Not Applicable
General Malacostraca Not Applicable
General Osteichthyes Not Applicable
General See Comments; Food See Comments
Important Animals Not Applicable
Important Sponges Not Applicable
Important See Comments; Food See Comments
Juvenile Animals Not Applicable
Adult Plants Not Applicable
Adult Osteichthyes Not Applicable
Adult Cirripeds Not Applicable
Adult Chlorophyta Not Applicable
Adult Malacostraca Not Applicable
Adult Animals Not Applicable
Adult Crustaceans Not Applicable
Adult Sponges Not Applicable
Adult Echinoderms Not Applicable
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 1046, 1027 and 1026
REFERENCES FOR IMPORTANT FOOD - 1046
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 1046, 1027 and 1026
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE FOOD - 1026
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
This species prefers invertebrates and the major food item is the sponge,
Geodia gibberosa *1046*. They feed on both plant and animal material.
It sometimes takes jellyfish, and often sponges and other sessile organ-
isms *8850*.
Hawksbills are omnivorous and eat plants and animals such as algae, se
grasses, soft corals, crustaceans, molluscs, sponges, jellyfish, and sea
urchins.*91*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
G Density of Aquatic Vegetation: Low
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Coastal Features: Reefs
G Coastal Features: Sand beaches
G Coastal Features: Sandy offshore islands
G Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
LIM Coastal Features: Specified in Comments
BA Coastal Features: Sand beaches
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1046, 1027 and 1026
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1046
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1046
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
This species is generally found in water less than 20 meters deep *1046*.
They nest on a variety of beaches *1046*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Physical description: The length of this species is 76-89 cm, with a weight
weight from 43-75 kg. The coloration is brown with yellow or red spots on
the carapace. The plastron is yellow, the postanal scales are yellow with
black spots, the head is brown with yellow jaws and the flippers are brown
on top, yellow below. The flippers have 2 claws, and the head is small with
2 pairs of prefrontal scales. There are 4 costal plates on both sides of the
carapace and the juveniles are black with the edge of the shell yellow
*1046,1027,1026*. Reproduction: This species does not breed in Virginia
waters. The incubation period is estimated to be 60 days and nesting occurs
every 2 to 3 years, but more than once a season, at 2 week intervals. The
clutch size is 150 to 160 eggs. Little other reliable data are available
*1046,1027*. This species will nest on small islets and isolated mainland
shores. The females may clamber over reefs, rocks or rubble to nest among
the roots of trees and bushes on the chosen beach *8850*.
Behavior: This species feeds on the bottom and close to shore. Turtles close
their eyes when eating Portuguese men-of-war (to avoid the tentacles), which
makes them an easy catch for hunters. They nest on sandy tropical beaches,
and mating is just off shore from these *1046,1027*. Migrations are poorly
known but they probably nest at least twice during a given season at
Tortuguero beach in Costa Rica, then return to the foraging grounds. The
internesting period may be more than two weeks, longer than that of any
other sea turtle *8850*. Origin: The origin of this species is native
*1046*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Nest/Den Site: Primary cavity (excavates its own)
Nest/Den Site: Hole in ground
Nest/Den Site: Bare ground (no or sparce vegetation)/
Nest Materials: Sand
Gestation/Incubation Period: 3-4 months
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: 101-
Number of Broods/Litters (Reproductive Efforts) Per Ye
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 1046, 1027, 1026 and 8850
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Regulating harvest of species being described
Beneficial Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Other management practices [specified in comments]
Existing Regulating harvest of species being described
Beneficial Public education - publicity
Beneficial Public education - law enforcement
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1046, 1027, 1026 and 8850
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1046, 1027 and 1026
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Carr recommends a ban on tortoise shell *1046* and Bustard suggests farming
hawksbills for tortoise shell and not killing those in the wild *1026*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species turtle, hawksbill sea
Species Id M030073
Date 26 AUG 96
References
828 Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1983. Republication of the lists of
endangered and threatened species. Federal Register
17.11-17.12:1-24.
1026 Bustard, R. 1973. Sea Turtles, Natural History and Conservation.
Taplinger Publ. New York, N.Y:22.
1027 Carr, A.F. 1952. Handbook of Turtles. Turtles of the United States,
Canada, and Baja California. Comstock Publ. Assoc. Cornell Univ.
Press, Ithaca, N.Y:542.
1046 Serv.,U.S. Fish and Wildl.. 1980. Selected vertebrate endangered
species of the sea coast of the United States: Hawksbill turtle
8850 Service , U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1985. A recovery plan for marine
turtles. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, GA:363.
References - 1