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Hawksbill
Eretmochelys imbricata
Silhouette: James R. Spotila and Ray Chatterji · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyCheloniidae (Typical Sea Turtles)
- GenusEretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtles)
- SpeciesEretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill)
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
13 Verified sightings at iSimangaliso Wetland Park From 2019 to 2026
845 In all 15 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Hawksbill
The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus Eretmochelys. The species has a global distribution that is largely limited to tropical and subtropical marine and estuary ecosystems.
The appearance of the hawksbill is similar to that of other sea turtles. In general, it has a flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and flipper-like limbs, adapted for swimming in the open ocean. E. imbricata is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins. Hawksbill shells slightly change colors, depending on water temperature. While this turtle lives part of its life in the open ocean, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs.
The World Conservation Union classifies E. imbricata as critically endangered, primarily as a result of human fishing practices. Hawksbill shells were the primary source of tortoiseshell material used for decorative purposes. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species regulates the international trade of hawksbill sea turtles and products derived from them. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Hawksbill in iSimangaliso Wetland Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coiba National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | Komodo National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 3 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 4 | Bali Barat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 5 | Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Corcovado National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 8 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Santa Rosa National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 10 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 11 | Celestún Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 12 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 13 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 14 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 15 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Hawksbill in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hawksbill sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 30th most-seen of the 43 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Hawksbill in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
June
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Hawksbill in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, against under 5% in January, April–May and July, the lowest months. That is one of iSimangaliso Wetland Park's driest months, with about 35 mm of rain against 130 mm in February.
What time of day is best to see a Hawksbill?
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Hawksbill sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is iSimangaliso Wetland Park the best place to see a Hawksbill?
14th of 15
Of the 15 parks where we can rate Hawksbill sightings, iSimangaliso Wetland Park ranks 14th at about 10%. The best odds are in Coiba National Park (Panama, about 90%), Komodo National Park (Indonesia, about 70%) and Raja Ampat (Indonesia, about 70%). All parks ranked.
Which relatives of the Hawksbill live in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
Same family: Cheloniidae
The closest relatives of the Hawksbill that you can see in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (family Cheloniidae, Typical Sea Turtles) are Loggerhead Sea Turtle (about 10%) and Green Sea Turtle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Hawksbill sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hawksbill is recorded against all the reptiles logged in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
