Hawksbill sea turtle with school of fish over coral reef
© Jag_cz/Adobe Stock
A hawksbill says hi
Hawksbill sea turtles might be the most photogenic of the world's many shell-dwellers. Even if you can't get a nice sunny shot like this, hawksbills are the only reptiles known to biofluoresce, showing off their elegant shape and ornate, pearly shells even in benthic darkness. That's where you'll often find them, raking the seafloor for sponges (a hawksbill staple that's toxic to most other creatures), using the sharp beaks they get their name from. Though habitat destruction and the tortoiseshell trade has left them endangered, today these unique turtles are the subject of recovery plans by conservation and wildlife management agencies worldwide. So watch your six, Mr. SquarePants, because these sponge-munchers could be due for a comeback.
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