Ascension : Conservation Weekly - Hawksbill Turtle
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 25.06.2009 (Article Archived on 09.07.2009)

This is a small turtle with a beautiful shell (the original tortoise shell), which merges with the environment.

It sleeps wedged under ledges which probably cause the white marks on the shell.

Although Hawksbills can be seen throughout the year, little is known about them.  The hawksbills that are seen around the island are said to be juveniles, they do not come on Ascension shores.

It is said that Hawksbill Turtles are Omnivores, eat both meat and plants. They eat Sponges, Jellyfish, Sea Urchins, Crustaceans, Tunicates, Mollusk, Shrimp and Squid, Plants from the bottom of the ocean and grass beds at different parts of the ocean.