Description of the Hawksbill Turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
![taxei-ei-swim-stj-c-caroline-rogers](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXEI-Ei-swim-StJ-c-Caroline-Rogers-300x239.jpg)
*source: Pritchard & Mortimier (1999)
![taxei-ei-face-c-d-chacon-2002](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXEI-Ei-face-c-D-Chacon-2002-300x239.jpg)
Relatively narrow; width to 12 cm; with a straight bird-like beak; two pairs of prefrontal scales.
![taxei-ei-reef-stj3-c-caroline-s-rogers](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXEI-Ei-reef-StJ3-c-Caroline-S-Rogers-300x239.jpg)
Oval, with a strongly serrated posterior margin and thick overlapping (imbricate) scutes (except in hatchlings and some adults); four pairs of costal scutes, each with a slightly “ragged” posterior border; straight carapace length (SCL) to about 90 cm.
![taxei-ei-swim-c-d-chacon-2002](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXEI-Ei-swim-c-D-Chacon-2002-300x239.jpg)
Yellow/gold in color (with dark blotches), typically four pairs of inframarginal scutes (without pores).