Hawksbill (Noun)
Meaning
Pugnacious tropical sea turtle with a hawk-like beak; source of food and the best tortoiseshell.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Hawksbill sea turtles have been a source of food for humans and other predators throughout history due to their abundance and rich meat.
- Tortoiseshell jewelry is predominantly crafted from the shell of hawksbill sea turtles.
- As an endangered species, international laws restrict the capture and trade of hawksbill turtles for both food and shell purposes.
- One reason behind the devastating decline in hawksbill sea turtle populations is overhunting, with fishermen competing to secure a profit from the sought-after tortoiseshell.
- Commercially driven tortoiseshell poaching was among the most prevalent factors threatening hawksbill turtle survival by the 1980s.