Awesome Non-Fish in Trouble # 1: A Faithful Hawksbill

Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) inhabit all tropical oceans of the world, and favor coastline where algae, sponges and other benthic invertebrates are abundant. They are highly mobile which makes them difficult to monitor. Contrary to what is known, they are not polygamous. A recent study on their DNA samples revealed that females mate only once at the start of the breeding season and can store sperm up to 75 days or until they reach the nesting site [1].

Photograph by M. Pan-Saniano

They have been highly commercially exploited for their bekko (tortoise shell) since the 15th century B.C. which resulted to a dramatic decline in their population based on the number of females annually nesting. Thus, they have been marked as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 1996 [2].

Let us spread the knowledge! It is the primary step to the road towards conservation.

To know more about hawksbill turtles, visit SeaLifeBase.
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[1] Phillips, K.P., T.H. Jorgensen, K.G. Jolliffe, S. Jolliffe, J. Henwood, and D.S. Richardson. 2013. Reconstructing paternal genotypes to infer patterns of sperm storage and sexual selection in the hawksbill turtle. Molecular Ecology.

[2] Meylan, A.B., and M. Donnelly. 1999. Status justification for listing the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) as critically endangered on the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3(2):200-224.

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Twelve baby starfish

Photo: Dr. Richard Kirby Royal Society University Research Fellow

Edited by: Jeniffer Espedido 

These are juvenile Luidia ciliaris. This species is found in the benthic environments of the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas up to a depth of about 400 meters. Usually identified by its orange-brown color and 7 radiating arms. The short arms of these baby starfishes will grow to be really long ones, making these not-so little critters grow to almost 40 centimeters across.

To learn more about this starfish or if you have other information you want to add about them, visit SeaLifeBase or become a collaborator and email us at sealifebase@fin.ph.

Inspired by: 12 Planktons of Christmas by Michele Collet

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© Photos by SeaLifeBase photo collaborator David Harasti

Do you have photos of marine organisms? Be a photo collaborator and help us give "faces" to the world's marine organisms.

Your every photo will be properly credited to you through our collaborator pages. Professional photographers, divers, biologists and enthusiasts are most welcome to contribute their photos. We request that photos are properly identified up to species level. Underwater photos, aquarium photos and museum specimen photos are welcome. Only submit photos which you have taken or have permission to distribute.


Written  by:
Jeniffer Espedido
Research Assistant
The SeaLifeBase Project