Hawksbills Chinese alias: Thirteen scales, Mao, Wen Jia Dai, Dai
Known for its largest turtle shell nearly 1 meters long, weighing about 27 kg. Usually see the shell is only about 60 cm long, weighing 9-14 kg. A total of 13 back, for imbricate arrangement, so named "scale thirteen". Adult carapace is bright yellow brown, smooth and shiny. Tail short, front and rear limbs with 2 claws. Head, tail and limbs can be retracted into the shell. Carapace and head scales are reddish brown and black. The neck and limbs back to black, some white.
The back and abdomen were hard armor. The head of the 2 front zygomatic scales. Close to the end of the nose. Must hook song, mouth like parrot, jaw edge serrated. Back in early scute, imbricate, become flat arranged, with age surface gloss, brown and light yellow and pattern. The central ridge scales 5, both sides have 4 pairs of edge rib scales; scales 25, jagged edges. Ventral by 13 scales, yellow black. The limbs were flat. Forelegs larger, with 2 claws, hind limbs with only 1 claws. Tail short, usually without revealing a nail.
Tropical and subtropical waters of India ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic. China is located in Paracel Islands, Hainan Island, Guangdong, Taiwan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong coastal areas.
Belong to the national level two protected animals. Guangdong province has been set up to protect the hawksbill turtle, green turtle, turtle of Donggang nature reserve. Now the tortoise is a rare animal protection, prohibit hunting.