Fact of the Day: Hawksbill Sea Turtle - Oceana USA
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July 19, 2010

Fact of the Day: Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Today’s Fact of the Day is about the beautiful hawksbill sea turtle. 

This sea turtle has a particularly breathtaking carapace (or top shell).  Unfortunately, as a result, hawksbill sea turtles were poached as the main source of tortoise shell goods for hundreds of years and are now in danger of extinction. 

Unlike other sea turtles, when hawksbills are on land they walk using diagonally opposite flippers, rather than moving their front flippers in tandem as they do when they swim. 

Check out what you can do to help the hawksbill sea turtles or browse for other ocean facts. (And of course, check back tomorrow for another FOTD!)