Hawksbill sea turtle

Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA

Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered and among the most ecologically important animals on Caribbean reefs. Their narrow pointed beaks allow them to extract sponges from tight reef crevices, and their selective feeding prevents fast-growing sponge species from overgrowing slow-growing reef corals. At Anses d'Arlet the shallow reef structure and protected bay provide ideal foraging habitat, and multiple individuals are resident year-round. They are most active in the morning and afternoon, resting under ledges during midday.