Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Sighting evidence at La Source, Grenada
Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA
La Source hosts one of Grenada's densest hawksbill populations, drawn by the exceptional sponge cover on the reef plateau. Hawksbills are the only sea turtle species to feed primarily on sponges, a food source avoided by almost all other animals due to its toxicity and silica glass spicule content. By controlling sponge growth, they keep coral settlement surfaces clear and perform critical reef maintenance. Grenada has operated hawksbill nesting beach protection programmes since the 1990s and La Source turtles are thought to nest on nearby Grand Anse Beach.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Hawksbill sea turtle is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.