Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae
Genus: Eretmochelys
Species: imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a critically endangered species that can be found in the Virgin Islands National Park. It can also be found in the Caribbean and Australia. It is a type of Sea turtle. Reasons that it could be endangered is that its main habitat is in the coral reefs. Coral reefs around the world are rapidly decreasing. The Virgin Islands National Park has beautiful coral reefs, but unfortunately they are disappearing due to many natural and human causes. Without anywhere to breed and hunt, the turtles starve and are more susceptible to die. With a vanishing home, the turtles are more exposed to threats such as getting caught in fishing lines. The eggs of the Hawksbill are also harvested, which does not allow its reproduction to continue. Pollution is also one of the causes of the Hawksbill decline. The number of Hawksbill Sea Turtles living as been reduced by 80% since the last census was taken
(Photo above)
(gatorgirl82, Jul 2012)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147411-d148000-Reviews-Waterlemon_Cay-Virgin_Islands_National_Park_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae
Genus: Eretmochelys
Species: imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a critically endangered species that can be found in the Virgin Islands National Park. It can also be found in the Caribbean and Australia. It is a type of Sea turtle. Reasons that it could be endangered is that its main habitat is in the coral reefs. Coral reefs around the world are rapidly decreasing. The Virgin Islands National Park has beautiful coral reefs, but unfortunately they are disappearing due to many natural and human causes. Without anywhere to breed and hunt, the turtles starve and are more susceptible to die. With a vanishing home, the turtles are more exposed to threats such as getting caught in fishing lines. The eggs of the Hawksbill are also harvested, which does not allow its reproduction to continue. Pollution is also one of the causes of the Hawksbill decline. The number of Hawksbill Sea Turtles living as been reduced by 80% since the last census was taken
(Photo above)
(gatorgirl82, Jul 2012)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147411-d148000-Reviews-Waterlemon_Cay-Virgin_Islands_National_Park_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html