hawksbill turtle
- noun
- /ˈhɔksˌbɪl ˈtɜrtl/
- Specialized
:
tortuga carey
- The hawksbill turtle has a distinctive beak that helps it feed on sponges.
Examples
-
For example, hawksbill turtles are endangered in every ocean basin as a result of exploitation of "tortoiseshell" scutes for artisan products.
Academic text (2009) -
A hawksbill turtle looking for food.
-
The country's coral reefs and coastal waters contain some of the highest concentrations of marine species in the Indian Ocean, including the sponge-eating hawksbill turtle.
Academic text (2006) -
We saw gratifying numbers of native reef fish and two hawksbill turtles—and a few lionfish.
Blog text (26) -
During our dive, we spotted a graceful hawksbill turtle swimming among the coral reefs.
-
Conservation efforts are underway to protect the hawksbill turtle from extinction due to illegal hunting.
Synonyms
A tropical sea turtle with a pointed beak and a beautiful patterned shell that is endangered
A tropical sea turtle with a hawk-like beak and a beautiful shell wanted by people
A tropical sea turtle with a hooked beak valued for its shell and meat
A tropical sea turtle with a hooked beak and a beautiful patterned shell valued for decoration and food
A sea turtle with a narrow, pointed beak and a patterned shell
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully descriptive: 'hawksbill' specifies a hawk-like beak and 'turtle' names the animal, so the overall meaning (a turtle with a hawk-like bill) is directly derivable from its parts. This kind of zoological naming is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand it.
Etymology
Hawksbill turtle gets its name from the turtle's pointed mouth: its bill looks like a hawk's 'beak', so people called it a 'hawksbill'. That's why the name reminds us it is a sea turtle with a 'hawk-like' beak and a beautiful shell once used for jewelry.
