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Hawksbill turtle

Hawksbill turtle

Hawksbill turtles, named for their curved beaks, do not nest natively in South Africa. They enter our waters as strays, searching for sub-tropical feeding grounds where they hunt crabs and prawns. Hawksbills are small, only growing to 80 kg. Hawksbills are critically endangered and declining.

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Hawksbill turtles are found mainly in tropical oceans, usually in coral reefs.
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Hawksbill turtles' shells are serrated and have overlapping scutes, or thick bony plates.
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While young, Hawksbill turtles' carapace is heart-shaped but elongates as they mature.