Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA

Hawksbills occupy the reef zone around Poilão's fringing reef, using their narrow beaks to extract sponges from crevices in the coral structure in a foraging specialisation that few other animals share. They are more solitary than green turtles and tend to occupy specific territories on the reef, making repeat sightings of the same individuals common on successive dives. The critically endangered status of hawksbills globally makes Poilão's healthy population especially significant for conservation.