Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata

Diagnostic features:

• Carapace: Cardiform or eliptical.
• Scutes strongly imbricated at maturity but this overlapping characteristic is lost when older.
• Inframarginal scales lack pores.
• Flippers: Both fore and rear carry two claws, larger in the males.
• Head: Narrow, with a pointed beak.
• The tomium is not serrated.
• Colour: Colourful though Eastern Pacific strongly melanistic.
• Stripes and spots of brown, red, black and yellow on an amber background make the shell its attractive and valuable.