You can tell hawksbill sea turtles apart from other sea turtle species by their pointed, bird-like beak—it’s how they got their name! Hawksbill sea turtles are a medium-sized turtle and can reach up to three feet long and weigh 300 pounds. On average, though, hawksbill sea turtles weigh less than 200 pounds and only reach about 2.5 feet.

Hawksbill sea turtles are known for their spectacularly-colored shells—their rich brown plates splashed with yellow, orange and black streaks are the classic “tortoiseshell” pattern. Humans love their shells, leading to serious overexploitation of the hawksbill sea turtles population. For many years, humans hunted hawksbill sea turtles for their shells to make jewelry, combs and more, causing their population to drop to the point that they are now critically endangered. And although legal trade for their shells finally ended in 1993, there is still a rampant illegal trade, especially in east Asia. To top it off, hawksbill sea turtles are also at risk due to accidental entanglement in fishing gear and habitat loss. Serious work needs to be done to make sure their populations are protected for generations to come!