The hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while Eretmochelys imbricata bissa is found in the Indo-Pacific region. The hawkbill's appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. It has a generally flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and its flipper-like arms are adapted for swimming in the open ocean. E. imbricata is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins. While the turtle lives a part of its life in the open ocean, it is most often encountered in shallow lagoons and coral reefs where it feeds on its chosen prey, sea sponges. Some of the sponges eaten by E. imbricata are known to be highly toxic and lethal when eaten by other organisms. Because of human fishing practices, Eretmochelys imbricata populations around the world are threatened with extinction and the turtle has been classified as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union. By the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, it is illegal to capture and to trade in hawksbill turtles and products derived from them in many nations.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawksbill_turtle

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

41:

Roman Emperor Caligula was murdered by Cassius Chaerea and the disgruntled Praetorian Guards. Caligula's uncle Claudius was proclaimed emperor in his place. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula

1848:

James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, USA, leading to the California Gold Rush. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush

1857:

The University of Calcutta, the first modern university in the Indian subcontinent, was established in Calcutta, India. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Calcutta

1972:

Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi was found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoichi_Yokoi

1984:

The first Apple Macintosh, today known as the Macintosh 128K , went on sale, becoming the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a command line interface. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh

1993:

Turkish journalist and writer Uğur Mumcu was assassinated by a car bomb outside his home in Ankara. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U%C4%9Fur_Mumcu

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

at loggerheads (adj): (figuratively) Unable to agree; opposing http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/at_loggerheads

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

There are two ways of spreading light: to be

The candle or the mirror that reflects it. --Edith Wharton http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edith_Wharton