Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) migrate between nesting beaches and feeding habitats that are often associated with tropical reefs, but it is uncertain which nesting colonies supply which feeding habitats. To address this gap in hawksbill biology, we compile previously published and new mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype data for 10 nesting colonies (N = 347) in the western Atlantic...

Abstract Hawksbill turtles ( n = 56) in a foraging ground around Isla San Jose, Gulf of California, Mexico, were caught, measured, and their skin scutes sampled. Tissue samples from putative prey species collected observed hawksbill feeding areas the ground. Measurements each turtle's straight carapace length used to estimate average life stage population. processed for stable carbon nitrogen i...

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) populations have experienced global decline because of a history of intense commercial exploitation for shell and stuffed taxidermied whole animals, and harvest for eggs and meat. Improved understanding of genetic diversity and phylogeography is needed to aid conservation. In this study, we analyzed the most geographically comprehensive sample of hawksb...

Herbivory is widely accepted as a vital function on coral reefs. To date, the majority of studies examining herbivory in coral reef environments have focused on the roles of fishes and/or urchins, with relatively few studies considering the potential role of macroherbivores in reef processes. Here, we introduce evidence that highlights the potential role of marine turtles as herbivores on coral...

Though sequences of formation and ossification of bony elements have been described for many taxa, controversy surrounds the formation of limb elements in turtles. Three hypotheses for patterns of formation of autopodial elements have been proposed, differing primarily in the origin of Distal Carpal/Tarsal 3, the digital arch, and Centrale 4. Patterns of formation and ossification of limb eleme...

Marine turtle nesting areas are characterized by receiving several females every year. The species Eretmochelys imbricata , known as hawksbill is listed Critically Endangered the IUCN, and has been target of studies on genetic structure population diversity in areas. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze haplotype composition populations sampled from coast northeastern Brazil based mtDNA D-loo...