Hawksbill Sea Turtleタイマイ

Eretmochelys imbricataCR— Critically Endangered

The hawksbill sea turtle is a coral-reef specialist found throughout the tropical Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, easily recognized by its hawk-like beak and overlapping shell scutes. Sponges make up 70–95% of its diet, an unusually narrow ecological niche among sea turtles. Centuries of hunting for the tortoiseshell trade—an estimated 8.98 million individuals killed between 1844 and 1992—have left it Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle (reference photo)
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Testudines / Cheloniidae Source
Distribution
Found in tropical waters of the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, favoring coral reef habitats, with major nesting sites in Indonesia, the Seychelles, the Maldives, and the Caribbean. Source

Did You Know?

  • Its pointed, hawk-like beak and overlapping shell scutes gave rise to the tortoiseshell trade; an estimated 8.98 million hawksbills were killed for their shells between 1844 and 1992. Source
  • Japan halted imports of tortoiseshell raw material in 1993 amid international pressure. Source

Where to See This Species

2 facilities · 0 individuals

沖縄美ら海水族館 (Okinawachuraumi Suizokukan)OkinawaOpened in 2002

沖縄美ら海水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNでCR(近絶滅種)。国際取引の規制と産卵地保全が重要です。

Habitat

熱帯・亜熱帯のサンゴ礁、沿岸域。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

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A visit itself helps support the facility.
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Furusato Nozei
Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

Why is the hawksbill sea turtle critically endangered?
It was hunted for centuries for its overlapping shell plates, used in the tortoiseshell trade; an estimated 8.98 million individuals were killed between 1844 and 1992. Source
What does a hawksbill sea turtle eat?
Sea sponges make up 70–95% of its diet, supplemented by algae, jellyfish, and other invertebrates. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org