The coast of the state of Yucatan, Mexico is a shelter site for four of the seven varieties of sea turtles that exist, mainly the hawksbill turtle.
This is a representative species of tropical seas and its main distinction is its shell, which is made up of thirteen overlapping plates and the patterns of bright colors that they reach in adulthood.
The sea turtles are a species that attracts many people because one of the favorite activities of tourists is to be able to dive into areas where they are found to be able to admire them. However, it is a species threatened by man.
If you are a lover of hawksbill turtles like us, in this article we will tell you everything about them, from where they live, what they eat, and what actions you can take for their protection and care.
We all know them as hawksbill sea turtles, its scientific name is Eretmochelys imbricata, which can be translated as "hawk beak", because of the notorious shape of its upper jaw in the form of a beak.
This species can be found in the tropical and subtropical seas of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is considered the most tropical species, since its nesting and feeding areas are distributed between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Its habitat changes depending on the stage of life in which it is found. For example, the hatchlings settle in coastal areas where they can take refuge under floating algae and once they reach maturity they move to open sea areas, where they will find reefs that will serve as their food source.
The densest population is found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean, where the Ría de Lagartos Biosphere Reserve is located and of which Las Coloradas, Yucatán, is a part.
A feature that we can notice with the naked eye is its oval shell, which —as we already mentioned— has thirteen overlapping sheets that are made of keratin to constitute its peculiar shape.
When they are newborns, their color is dark brown which changes as they grow, until reaching in adulthood the pattern of rays in different shades of yellow, brown and black that characterizes them.
Its skull is long, narrow and ends in a beak, its lower part is yellow or cream, it has fin-shaped extremities and each one of them has two claws, longer and stronger in males.
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The hawksbill turtle is primarily carnivorous, although its diet varies depending on where it lives.
Due to their narrow bill, they can capture prey between the small spaces of coral reefs. In the Caribbean, they feed mainly on sponges —which is why it is the only spongivorous reptile—, algae, molluscs, crustaceans, sea anemones, etc.
The function of this species is to control the growth of marine sponges that, if they multiply excessively, can damage coral reefs, altering the balance of the ecosystem.
Have you ever wondered how long a hawksbill turtle lives? or what size can they be?
Newly hatched can measure up to 6 cm, and have floating masses (such as algae) as a refuge area until they reach 20-25 cm. At this stage, their shell is heart-shaped, which expands as they grow.
They are considered juveniles between 25 to 55 cm, sub-adults from 55 to 70 cm and reach the adult stage when they exceed 70 cm; It is at this stage that they reach sexual maturity, which is between 16 and 20 years of age, which indicates that they are slow-growing.
Adult specimens weigh between 50 and 80 kg, although in the Yucatan area turtles have been found that reach 127 kilos in weight. Many specimens can reach up to 114 cm in length.
Turtles in general are considered very long-lived animals, in this case, hawksbill turtles can live from 30 to 50 years in their natural habitat, 40 years mostly.
The life of the Eretmochelys imbricata begins when the females are ready to spawn, then they approach the beaches, selecting a place that is higher than the high tide, to later dig a nest that varies between 10 to 90 cm. deep.
The average number of eggs that they spawn is 140 and, once they are completely covered, they spend a short time on the beach and then return to the open sea. This process is repeated by the female approximately every fifteen days until she completes her nesting cycle, which can reach up to eight nests per cycle.
Once this period is over, they return to the sea until they return to repeat their breeding season, which is done on the surface near the nesting areas.
The eggs incubate on their own and the gender of the hatchlings depends on the temperature of the incubation. In the Yucatan Peninsula, the average incubation period is 55 days, and this period includes the months between April and November, with hatching occurring from June to November.
The challenges of the hatchlings begin as soon as they hatch, since the first challenge they have is to dig upwards looking for the surface.
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If ambient temperatures are very high, they remain inactive and then make their way to the sea, orienting themselves by the intensity of the light. Once out to sea, they are guided by the magnetic fields of the earth to seek refuge in areas of the high seas.
We should mention that Yucatan is where 3 of the 7 species of sea turtles that exist nest: Hawksbill turtle, White turtle and Loggerhead turtle.
At this point, it is important to mention that —on a global level— all species of sea turtles are considered critically endangered.
Knowing the importance of this turtle in the balance of the environment, its reproductive process and life cycle, will help us to be aware that —if we wish to visit its nesting areas— the recommended measures for its conservation must be strictly followed.
This species is classified as critically endangered since 1996 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and placed in Appendix 1 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) , which refers to all endangered species that are or may be affected by trade.
The main threat facing the hawksbill sea turtle is the human being —although it is also such a delicate species that even changes within nature represent a degree of risk for its conservation— among which the following can be mentioned:
We can notice that the slightest change in the natural conditions of its natural habitat generates a significant process of adaptation of the species, which should not happen and therefore makes the proliferation of the hawksbill turtle even more difficult.
Other species in the region are also affected by man, such as the pink flamingos and a great variety of flora in the area, including mangroves.
Fortunately —considering that the hawksbill turtle is in danger of extinction— there are public and private institutions that, working together, have been in charge of establishing and promoting projects for the conservation of this species.
Some of the activities carried out by the Government of Yucatan, through the Secretariat of Sustainable Development (SDS), are the constant day and night patrolling of the nesting areas during the months that it comprises, monitoring of the females that come to spawn and informative talks about this topic.
There is the Action Program for the Conservation of the Species (PACE) at the federal level, which proposes a list of actions to reduce the threats caused to the flora and fauna, as well as the National Program for the Conservation of Sea Turtles, which has made progress in the care of the species, including:
The civil association Pronatura, together with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), monitors and protects Las Coloradas, considered one of the nesting places for the hawksbill turtle. It is also in charge of promoting volunteer programs among local inhabitants to spread the importance of its preservation.
Las Coloradas is a small fishing town located in the east of the state of Yucatan, its main distinctive are the pools of water that take on a pink tint due to its high salinity.
Las Coloradas is a fundamental part of the Yucatan salt industry, because all the sea salt that is processed for food use is extracted there, so this industry represents the main economic activity of the town.
Grupo Roche, which is behind the production of Sal Sol, the number one salt in Mexico, has a specialized Laboratory to preserve the beautiful pink color of the water and maintain the high quality of the salt with processes that prioritize care for the environment. .
Las Coloradas, is the favorite nesting place for the hawksbill turtle, representing the seventh place in the international level of nesting population and the largest in the Atlantic.
Every year, between the months of April to November —with its peak during June— they come to the beaches to spawn, which is a spectacle worth admiring. Always keep in mind that it must be done very carefully and with all respect so as not to disturb the turtles.
In addition to everything that we already mentioned, in Las Coloradas there is a lot to do because it is an incredible tourist park that offers many options of activities to do, such as its guided tours by professionals with knowledge of the guidelines established by the laws that promote conservation. of species.
The tours that we can mention are:
If you want to know more about the hawksbill turtle and all the species that inhabit Las Coloradas, the best way is undoubtedly to take one of these tours, they are designed to provide the best experience without interfering with the natural habitat of the turtles.
Man has a very important role on planet earth.
On the one hand, we are capable of making great efforts to maintain order and the life of all the living beings around us, and on the other hand, we are also the main cause of the destruction of ecosystems and entire species.
Awareness and respect towards third parties should not only be given to our own species, but must be applied equally: flora, fauna and human beings must live in harmony, this is the only way that we guarantee a great duration of life.
Throughout this article we were able to learn about the relevance and fragility of the hawksbill turtle, the conservation of coral reefs depends on it, on which the life of other types of marine species depends.
For this reason, the best is to go with certified tourist companies and with all the official permits to carry out any type of recreational activity such as Las Coloradas, because the safety of the tourist and the ecosystem in general is guaranteed.
If you want to know more about how to get to Las Coloradas, or why the water is pink, we invite you to visit our blog. If you are ready to book your next trip to Yucatan, we will be happy to welcome you.
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