Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata
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- E. i. imbricata – Gulf of Mexico – Stock photo
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- E. i. imbricata – Gulf of Mexico – Stock photo
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Eretmochelys i. imbricata occurs along the Gulf Coast of Texas from Port O’Connor to Brownsville.
LEGAL STATUS: Eretmochelys i. imbricata is listed as Endangered throughout its entire range under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eretmochelys imbricata bissa (Ruppell 1835)
Genus: Eretmochelys, Greek – eretmo = oar + chelys = turtle — ref. to forelimb shape
Species/Subspecies: imbricata, Latin = overlapping — prob. ref. scute pattern
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962