Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: Whylie Walton · © all rights reserved

Hawksbill turtles forage across Coral Gardens' abundant sponge communities, their narrow pointed beaks evolved specifically to extract sponges from coral crevices that broader-headed turtles cannot access. As critical sponge-population regulators on coral reefs, hawksbills help maintain the balance between coral and sponge communities, and their presence in Lord Howe's protected lagoon reflects the effectiveness of the island's marine park management.