{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "hawksbill-turtle",
  "name": "Hawksbill Sea Turtle",
  "scientificName": "Eretmochelys imbricata",
  "category": "Reptile",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Critically Endangered",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Reptilia",
    "order": "Testudines",
    "family": "Cheloniidae",
    "genus": "Eretmochelys"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 80,
    "lengthM": 0.9,
    "topSpeedKmh": 24,
    "lifespanYears": 50
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Eretmochelys imbricata"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — sponges, jellyfish, algae, and anemones"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Tropical coral reefs worldwide"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "30–50 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "45–90 kg (100–200 lb); smaller than loggerheads"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 24 km/h (15 mph) swimming"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Critically Endangered (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Tropical coral reefs worldwide — nesting beaches in Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and Red Sea.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "North America",
      "Oceania",
      "Oceans",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Eretmochelys imbricata.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Eretmochelys%20imbricata&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Eretmochelys imbricata. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Eretmochelys_imbricata/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hawksbill-turtle/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hawksbill-turtle/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}