Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA

Hawksbill turtles are specialist sponge feeders whose narrow beaks allow them to extract sponges and soft corals from reef crevices, keeping sponge populations in check and promoting coral diversity. A single hawksbill can consume over 1000 kg of sponges per year, making them keystone species in maintaining the balance between sponge and coral communities. Protected thilas like Fushivaru serve as critical foraging grounds for this critically endangered species.