Land turtles can pull their feet into their shells for protection, but a sea turtle can't. In the case of the hawksbill turtle, however, its name does describe a unique feature of this reptile. To add to this birdlike appearance, their longish heads become narrower near their mouths and their lower jaw is V-shaped. The worst thing about the hawksbill sea turtle is that the scutes, or scales, on its shell are beautiful. Their beautiful scutes cost many hawksbill turtles their lives.
Hawksbills live in different places at different stages of their life.
Little baby hawksbill sea turtles usually crack out of their egg shells at night, opening their brand new eyes on a Caribbean beach. It is believed that the very young hawksbills take shelter in weedlines. As they grow, Hawksbills venture into coastal waters throughout central Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. Here they seek shelter in the ledges and caves of coral reef systems. They also eat the sponges which are commonly found on reefs.