The hawksbill turtle′s beak-like mouth is perfect for eating their favorite food: sponges! As the only species of sea turtles that feed primarily on sponges, hawksbill turtles play a very important role in their ecosystem. Eating sponges helps succession to occur in the reef and opens up space for other organisms to grow.
Hawksbill turtles get their name from their beak-shaped mouth, which gives this species an advantage when reaching for prey in tight spots and coral reef crevices. These sea turtles have a particularly stunning shell, with jagged edges and streaks of orange, yellow, red, brown, and black patterned throughout the face of the shell. From head to tail, they measure up to 1 meter (3.5 feet) long.
Hawksbills can be found throughout most of the world′s oceans, primarily in tropical regions, but sometimes also in temperate waters. They are spotted nesting on sandy beaches, roaming around coral reefs, and eating their primary source of food, sea sponges. While most of the time they eat sea sponges, hawksbills are also known to occasionally feed on corals, jellyfish, mollusks, crustaceans, urchins, and small fish.