Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Sighting evidence at Coral Gardens, Lord Howe Island
Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA
Hawksbill turtles forage across Coral Gardens' abundant sponge communities, their narrow pointed beaks evolved specifically to extract sponges from coral crevices that broader-headed turtles cannot access. As critical sponge-population regulators on coral reefs, hawksbills help maintain the balance between coral and sponge communities, and their presence in Lord Howe's protected lagoon reflects the effectiveness of the island's marine park management.
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.