The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a marine turtle that lives in shallow waters around coral reefs. Its brown shell is strikingly coloured with irregular yellow and orange mottles, and its upper jaw protrudes far beyond its lower one, giving its mouth the distinctive beak-like shape from which it gets its name. The Hawksbill Turtle is carnivorous, feeding mostly on crustaceans and sponges. It has been regularly sighted along the Singapore Strait. Due to the many threats it faces – sea pollution, reclamation of nesting beaches and over-collection of its highly prized shell, meat and eggs – the Hawksbill Turtle is a Critically Endangered species. 

Learn more about the Hawksbill Turtle here.

(Photo credit: Karenne Tun)