# Where Do Hawksbill Sea Turtles Live?

> Hawksbills live on tropical coral reefs worldwide and nest on tropical beaches. IUCN Critically Endangered. Not sea-snakes.

- **Species:** Hawksbill Sea Turtle (*Eretmochelys imbricata*)
- **Conservation status:** Critically Endangered
- **Diet:** Carnivore — sponges, jellyfish, algae, and anemones
- **Habitat:** Tropical coral reefs worldwide
- **Lifespan:** 30–50 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 24 km/h (15 mph) swimming
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hawksbill-turtle/where-do-hawksbill-turtle-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hawksbill-turtle/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The hawksbill is a small sea turtle of tropical coral reefs worldwide, named for its narrow, bird-like beak. It grows to about 0.9 m (3 ft) and 45 to 90 kg, feeds mainly on sponges, and can swim at up to 24 km/h (15 mph). Hawksbills live 30 to 50 years in the wild and are Critically Endangered, largely because their beautiful shells were harvested for tortoiseshell.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a sighting hotline. This page is native range and habitat.

## Appearance and the tortoiseshell shell

The hawksbill is instantly recognised by its overlapping, amber-and-brown scutes, which form the patterned shell long prized as "tortoiseshell". Its jaws taper to a sharp, hooked beak that works like a pair of scissors, and the rear of the shell is serrated like the teeth of a saw. Adults reach around 0.9 m (3 ft) in shell length and 45 to 90 kg, making them smaller than the bulky loggerhead.

## Help protect the Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill turtles are Critically Endangered — illegal tortoiseshell trade and reef loss still threaten nesting beaches.

[Donate to protect sea turtles](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/sea-turtles/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hawksbill-turtle/where-do-hawksbill-turtle-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.