Hawksbill turtles, named for their curved beaks, do not nest natively in South Africa. They enter our waters as strays, searching for sub-tropical feeding grounds where they hunt crabs and prawns. Hawksbills are small, only growing to 80 kg. Hawksbills are critically endangered and declining.
Hawksbill turtles are found mainly in tropical oceans, usually in coral reefs.
Hawksbill turtles' shells are serrated and have overlapping scutes or thick bony plates.
While young, Hawksbill turtles' carapace is heart-shaped but elongates as they mature.