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Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Reptile · family Cheloniidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Endangered[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
10 states[3]
Typical length
32 in[4]

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a reptile in the family Cheloniidae[5]. It is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[1].

Conservation status

The US Endangered Species Act lists the Hawksbill Sea Turtle as Endangered, since June 2, 1970[1]. NatureServe gives it a global rank of G3, which it labels Vulnerable[2]. In the United States its national rank is N1B, which means Critically Imperiled as a breeder[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Critically endangered[7]. It is also in CITES Appendix I, which sets controls on international trade[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed June 2, 1970
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[6] N1B (Critically Imperiled (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Critically endangered
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Hawksbill Sea Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the species as native in 10 US states and territories: California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas, along with one more state shown on the page map[3]. The federal listed range includes states such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana and Texas, along with Puerto Rico, Guam and other US territories[1]. Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico and Washington have the most GBIF records, but those counts follow where observers look and not how many turtles there are[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank S1MNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: native, state rank SNRRICalifornia: native, state rank SNACAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: native, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S1NSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank SNALAMississippi: native, state rank SNAMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: native, state rank S1HITexas: native, state rank S2TXFlorida: native, state rank S1FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (10 states)
StateRankMeaning
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
FloridaS1Critically Imperiled
HawaiiS1Critically Imperiled
LouisianaSNANot Applicable
MississippiSNANot Applicable
New JerseyS1MCritically Imperiled (migrant)
Rhode IslandSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
TexasS2Imperiled

Habitat

This turtle uses many warm coastal and ocean habitats, such as sand and dunes, bays, lagoons, tidal flats, near shore waters and the open sea[12]. Reefs, sea grass beds and mangrove bays are part of its home waters[13]. Young turtles drift with floating mats of sea plants in the open ocean[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size and diet

NatureServe records the adult diet as mostly invertebrates, so it is called an invertivore[14]. Food includes crabs, sea urchins, shellfish and jellyfish, along with some plants and fish[15]. Recent research points to a focus on sponges in Florida and the Caribbean[15]. A typical length is 81 cm (32 in) and a typical adult weight is 75 kg (165 lb)[4][16]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 10,000 to 100,000 individuals[9].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 81 cm (32 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 75 kg (165 lb)
Food habits[14] Invertivore
Migration[17] local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe describes the species as a local migrant and a long distance migrant, and populations can differ[17]. US observation records on GBIF are highest in January, August and September[18]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].

January: 28 recordsJanFebruary: 11 recordsFebMarch: 13 recordsMarApril: 21 recordsAprMay: 19 recordsMayJune: 25 recordsJunJuly: 19 recordsJulAugust: 33 recordsAugSeptember: 29 recordsSepOctober: 15 recordsOctNovember: 15 recordsNovDecember: 13 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January28
February11
March13
April21
May19
June25
July19
August33
September29
October15
November15
December13

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, Washington[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the hawksbill sea turtle endangered?
Yes. It is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and the IUCN category recorded by NatureServe is Critically endangered[7].
Where does the hawksbill sea turtle live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas, along with one more state shown on the page map[3].
What does the hawksbill sea turtle eat?
Mostly invertebrates such as crabs, sea urchins, shellfish and jellyfish, plus some plants and fish[15].
How big is a hawksbill sea turtle?
A typical length is 81 cm (32 in) and a typical adult weight is 75 kg (165 lb)[4][16].
When are hawksbill sea turtles reported in the US?
GBIF records are highest in January, August and September, though they reflect when people report and not how many turtles there are[18].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Hawksbill sea turtle has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). States in the listed range: Alabama, American Samoa, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Hawksbill Sea Turtle: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Hawksbill Sea Turtle as native in 10 US states and territories: California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 81 cm (32 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a reptile in the family Cheloniidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N1B (Critically Imperiled (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Critically endangered. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Hawksbill Sea Turtle: Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, Washington. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Hawksbill Sea Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Hawksbill Sea Turtle: Sand/dune, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon, Tidal flat/shore, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Hawksbill Sea Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Hawksbill Sea Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 75 kg (165 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe migration category for Hawksbill Sea Turtle: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Hawksbill Sea Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.