Hawksbill Sea Turtles Weigh Up to 150 Pounds

Hawksbill Sea Turtles are about 24–45 inches long, weigh up to 150 pounds, and live to be about 50 years old.¹ They get their name from the fact that their mouths have a similar shape to that of a hawk’s beak.²

You can find these turtles in tropical and subtropical oceans. These turtles will nest on beaches and you can find them in:²

• Australia
• Mexico
• Cuba
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Hawaii

When they lay their eggs, they’ll lay around 150 at a time – and they’ll do this a couple of times throughout the season.²

These turtles love to eat sponges, but will also eat crustaceans, fish, jellyfish, and mollusks.^1&2 In turn, they’re preyed upon by sharks, humans, and octopi.¹ A lot of the threats from humans come from hunting in order to trade their shell.^1&2

It’s important to conserve this species because they are critically endangered, and they play an important role in their habitats.¹ They migrate a lot – sometimes over a thousand miles! – and help ensure that coral reefs stay healthy.^1&2

Sources:

1. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/hawksbill-sea-turtle?loggedin=true&rnd=1682708730116
2. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawksbill-turtle