A hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, at Jayne's Gulley, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.
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13 graceful pictures of rare sea turtles
On World Sea Turtle Day, see photos of one of the most vulnerable animal populations on Earth, some of which are near extinction.
Sea turtles are one of a small number of species alive today that once roamed with dinosaurs, as far back as 150 million years ago. But despite their long history on this planet, sea turtles are now facing an existential crisis.
Of the seven species that swim in our oceans today, all face potential threats. The hawksbill sea turtle and the Kemp's ridley sea turtle have the most uncertain future—the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies both as critically endangered.
Sea turtles feel the brunt of human influence on the environment. These animals inhabit both marine and beach ecosystems, and experts warn their extinction could harm seagrass beds and other ecosystems on which people also depend.
The world's
