The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Indo-Pacific subspecies.
While this turtle lives part of its life in the open ocean, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs. Human fishing practices threaten populations with extinction. Hawksbill shells were the primary source of tortoise shell material used for decorative purposes. In some parts of the world, hawksbill sea turtles are eaten as a delicacy. They are highly migratory. Because of their tough carapaces, their predators are sharks, estuarine crocodiles, octopuses, and some species of pelagic fish.