Hawksbill Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Sighting evidence at Delma Island Reef, Abu Dhabi
Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA
Delma Island is an important nesting beach for hawksbills and foraging individuals are encountered on virtually every dive, working the reef's sponge and soft coral communities with efficient precision. The island's relative isolation from boat traffic and coastal development has allowed a resident population to persist in numbers not seen at more heavily used UAE sites. Hawksbills play a vital ecological role by grazing sponges that would otherwise outcompete and smother slow-growing hard corals.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Hawksbill Turtle is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.