hawksbill turtle

noun hawks·bill turtle \ ˈhȯks-ˌbil- \

variants: or hawksbill

|Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of hawksbill turtle

: a small- to medium-sized sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) of warm waters that has a narrow hawk-like beak, an upper shell of overlapping horny plates, and usually two claws on each forelimb

Note: The hawksbill turtle feeds chiefly on sponges. Its mottled brownish upper shell was used especially formerly to produce tortoiseshell.

Recent Examples of hawksbill turtle from the Web

Open to people only from September to May, the island is the summer nesting site for migratory birds flying thousands of miles from the west coast of Africa and hawksbill turtles who lay their eggs on the unruffled sand.

— melanie reffes, USA TODAY, "Best Caribbean islands for nature lovers," 9 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hawksbill turtle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.