It has five central and four pairs of lateral scutes on its carapace. One of its adaptations is its hard shell. This sea turtle has two claws on each flipper and a beak like mouth. Another adaption, once the eggs are hatched, the young baby turtles heaad straight to the water in hopes to get into the water to find their mother. Frequently, seabirds perch on the backs of the flatbacks. Also, like many other sea turtles, Hawksbill Turtles arrive on their natural beaches, they dig up the sand to lay their eggs and then return to the sea. Most turtles chose what kind of seaweed or sea plant they eat, however most tutles preffer to stick to seaweed. It also has thick posterior overlapping scutes along with 4 pairs of costal scutes. Black and green sea turtles have finely serrated jaws adapted for a vegetarian diet of algae and sea grasses. The normal lifespan of hawksbill turtles is thought to be about 30 to 50 years, however biologists are not sure exactly how long they live. They have large storages of oxygen and blood, and their lungs can collapse, while a shunt pushes blood away from them lungs and back into the body. These scutes are streaked and marbled with amber, yellow, black, or brown and the turtle has a yellowish plastron. Structural Adaptations: The hawksbill sea turtle has a “beak” in which the upper jaw overhangs the lower jaw, giving it the ability to access crevices and small holes to obtain its predominant food source which are sponges. Here you can learn about the natural history of this species. The cause of their decline continues to be driven by the demand for their shell, however a host of other dangers also put them at serious risk. ("Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle Fact Sheet", 2003) Range lifespan Status: captivity 20+ (high) years; Behavior. Little is known about the individual behavior of sea turtle species. The shell protects a sea turtle like a shield from many predators. The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) has a beautiful carapace, which caused this turtle to be hunted nearly to extinction. Here you can learn about the natural history of this species. In addition to their shells, sea turtles are armed with claws on each foreflipper, large upper eyelids to protect their eyes, and acute senses of sight and smell under water. Hawksbill turtles have a narrow head with jaws meeting at an acute angle adapted for getting food from crevices in coral reefs. Physical and Behavioral Adpatations Leatherback Sea Turtles have many adaptations that help them dive deep down into the ocean. Hawksbill turtles spend some time resting or … Neither sea turtles nor land turtles have teeth, but they have well-built jaws that vary in shape according to species and diet (herbivore, carnivore or omnivore). This beak is perfectly suited for crushing, biting, and tearing food. Another adaptation that a sea turtle has is its flippers. Also like many other sea turtles, Hawksbill Turtles arrive on their natal beaches, dig up the sand to lay their eggs and then return to the sea. Additionally the first thing the newborn turtles do is dive down to eat seaweed. They … The carapace of the hawksbill is unique amongst the sea turtles as the scutes overlap. Hawksbill Turtle Threats Like all sea turtles, hawksbills face a multitude of threats as a result of human activities. Hawksbill turtles are often found in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and nest on the beaches of at least 60 countries (Linnaeus, 1776). SPECIAL ANATOMICAL, BEHAVIORAL OR PHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS: The Hawksbill Sea turtle has two pairs of prefrontal scales on its carapace. The reptile has powerful toothless jaws and a raptorlike "beak," which earned the hawksbill its name. Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a kind of small to medium-sized sea turtle with a hawk-like beak and a fancy brown carapace. Behavioural Adaptations: The Hawksbill Sea Turtle, like many other species of sea turtle tuck their bodies into their shell when in or predicting danger. The hawksbill sea turtle is a small, agile turtle with an oval-shaped body. In the ocean, flatback turtles may spend hours at the surface floating, apparently asleep or basking in the sun. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh as well.