Eats a toxic sponge
The hawksbill turtle has been recorded preying on the sea sponge Tethya actinia, despite that sponge being highly toxic to fish.
Species Guide
What to know about hawksbill turtles
A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.
The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been recorded preying on the sea sponge Tethya actinia, which is highly toxic to fish.
Recorded to prey upon the sea sponge Tethya actinia, which is highly toxic to fish.
The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Mahé, Caye Caulker, San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Belize and countries such as Seychelles, Egypt, Belize for divers building trips around hawksbill turtles.
Diet
What hawksbill turtles tend to eat
Useful feeding context that often explains habitat, movement, and encounter style.
Recorded to prey upon the sea sponge Tethya actinia, which is highly toxic to fish.
Responsible Encounters
How to dive with hawksbill turtles
Conservation-minded guidance for divers who want the encounter without adding pressure.
Give hawksbill turtle space, avoid blocking the animal's path, and follow local site and operator rules for wildlife interactions with turtles.
Field Notes
![Scientific name: Dermochelys coriacea Common name Spanish: Tinglar Photo by Claudia Lombard, USFWS Location, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands More information: [1]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscccpsqeuaphhrqmepmb.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fimages-public%2Fclean%2Fcontent%2Fce079739-416f-4696-b477-a5113ebfaec1%2Fmaster.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
