Turtle ID?

[kidspot]

Spotted this guy on a dive recently and wanted to confirm ... Hawksbill?

I was under the impression the ID is based upon the back end of the shell - is this correct?

Mahalo, Tim

 

[DiveMaven]

That's what I was taught. Hawksbills are smaller than the Green Sea turtles and have the scalloped shell. I'd ID that as a Hawksbill too.

 

[Shaka Doug]

Take a good look at the "beak". The Hawksbill has more of a downward, pronounced hook with an overbite than the green sea turtle.

 

[VBlueV]

yeah tim.. since i couldn't tell from your angle of it's bill..

i realized it's shell was very distinct too..

here's the "marked" hawksbill from lanai lookout a few weeks ago..

their shells are a match i'd say..

 

[kidspot]

Doug - is the scalloped shell difinitive or just the beak?

Let me see if I can find a better pic of the beak.

Aloha, Tim

 

[kidspot]

 

[kidspot]

btw - what happens when you have a hybrid HB/Green?

 

[VBlueV]

btw - what happens when you have a hybrid HB/Green?

you get the NOBEL PRIZE for Marine Biology!

wow tim! you found a hybrid! (the beak/bill doesn't look as pointy as i've seen on others)

hmm.. don't they know they're only supposed to breed with their own kind?

btw.. here's my favorite shot of a hawksbill..

looks like a lamborghini (HB).. vice a mini van (Green)

 

[kidspot]

I was doing some research on turtles recently and learned that all sea turtles can interbreed except for the Leatherback (I think that was the one exception)

P.S. they are the same "kind" it's called the "Turtle" kind ... just like the "Dog" kind etc

 

[VBlueV]

as we digress.. and speaking of the "Dog" kind
i was at the Honolulu Zoo last year..
and two giant terrestrial turtles started doing the Discovery Channel thing..
with a whole gaggle of school age kids watching and bewildered..

in muffled murmurs all around i kept hearing.. "mommy.. why is that turtle 'attacking' the other?"

i'm glad they don't normally ask daddy those questions