Turtle GALLERY

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbriocata

The Hawksbill Turtle is an endangered Species.  Thanks to the Marine National Park Waters around the island, Hawksbill Turtles are a fairly common sight.  You will often times see them feeding on sponges, even the toxic "Touch-me-not Sponge".  Hawksbill Turtles have a square of four plates between their eyes and green turtles only have two plates between their eyes. Another distinguishing feature is the Hawksbill's shell has serrated edges on the rear shell plates.  In several of the pictures you can see the turtle's small "thumb appendage" on the leading edge of their front fin that helps them from slipping on the rocks while they are trying to tear at the sponges. They can weigh as much as 165 lbs. (rarely seen at that size)
ICUN
Status: Critically Endangered A2bd ver 3.1
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/8005/0
Pop. trend: decreasing  

GreenTurtle

Chelonia mydas

Seen much less often than the Hawksbill Turtle, the Green Sea Turtles I've encountered were very shy. The Green Sea Turtle can grow to 3 times the size of the Hawksbill. Named for the color of their body's fatty tissue, not the color of their shell.
ICUN
Status: Endangered A2bd ver 3.1
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/4615/0
Pop. trend: decreasing  

 

Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata

Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Four plates in the square between the eyes.

Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Serrated edge on shell's rear plates

Hawksbill Turtle

Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas

Green Turtle

Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas Two plates in the square between the eyes.

Green Turtle

Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
Non-Serrated edge

Green Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata
Hawksbill Turtle - Eretmochelys imbriocata

Hawksbill with broken shell
 

Green Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas
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