First confirmed report of Hawksbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata in nearshore waters of Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

• Rocío Álvarez-Varas ^[3] ; Marcelo Flores ^[1] ; Diego Demangel ; Michel García ^[2] ; Nicole Sallaberry-Pincheira ^[4]
  1. [1] Universidad Andrés Bello

     Universidad Andrés Bello

     Santiago, Chile

     
  2. [2] ORCA Diving Center, Hanga Roa, Easter Island, Chile
  3. [3] ONG Qarapara Tortugas Marinas Chile
  4. [4] Centro de Sustentabilidad y Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad AndresBello

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• Localización: Revista de biología marina y oceanografía, ISSN 0718-1957, ISSN-e 0717-3326, Vol. 50, Nº. 3, 2015, págs. 597-602
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Primer reporte confirmado de Tortuga Carey Eretmochelys imbricata en aguas costeras de Isla de Pascua (Rapa Nui)
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• Resumen

  • The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Critically Endangered) has a circumtropical distribution. In Polynesia it inhabits the waters of a great number of islands; however, up to date there are no official records for Easter Island. We document the first report of E. imbricata in Easter Island and Chile based on underwater photographs and examination of one individual. The confirmation of the presence of hawksbills extends the known distribution range for the species, increases the number of sea turtle species recorded for Chile, and highlights the need for further research on potential threats to the species and the importance of Rapa Nui as developmental and foraging habitat for hawksbills.