Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata) refers to a small to medium sized sea turrtle that is hunted over the years for their beautiful shells.
Hawksbill Turtles are considered to be critically endangered. It has a narrow head and a long, tapered beak shaped similarly to that of a bird of prey, hence the name. The scutes on their shells are misleadingly known as Tortoiseshell and are sought after in some parts of the world to make jewelry and other ornaments. Trade in all wild marine turtles and their parts is currently banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) but some illegal trade continues to endanger the species. Please don't buy genuine tortoiseshell items at home or abroad.