Taxonomic Composition of the Diet of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Republic of Seychelles

Abstract

The taxonomic composition of the diet of hawksbill turtles was determined at five locations in the Republic of Seychelles (Inner Islands, Amirantes Group, Farquhar Atoll, Cosmoledo Atoll and Aldabra Atoll) using a combination of gut samples taken from salvaged dead animals, oesophageal lavages and in-water observations. Preliminary analysis reveals at least16 animal and four plant species. Sponges predominated with 10 genera identified. Although our list of food items is similar to those compiled for hawksbills at other study sites in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, we record six genera of diet items not previously recorded. This study is the first of its kind in the western Indian Ocean.