Study of nesting and reproductive characters of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) in Mond protected area, Bushehr Province

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) is important species and a critically endangered species. In present study reproductive ecology and biology of hawksbill turtle from Ommolgorm Island in Mond Protected Area investigated in 2017. During monitoring period, 110 turtles were biometry that 41 of them have been successful nesting.  The results showed that mean of nest length, width and depth were recorded 110.76±16.65, 99.45±11.90 and 55.3±8.5cm. Carapace curved length and width were 70.25±3.75 and 64.72±3.08cm, mean of total number eggs was 108±11.5, mean of normal and abnormal eggs number, diameter and weight were 74±3.9, 37.9 ±2.1 mm and 28.85±3.82gr, and 26.9±6.25, 20.6±2.6mm and 11.1±3.85gr, respectively. Mean of hatchling length, width and weight were recorded 38.1±1.97mm, 29.95±1.45mm and 12.4±0.97gr. Incubation period, egg hatching percentage and death embryos were calculated 62.5±14.9 days, 52.45±14.9% and 19.4±6.4 embryo, respectively. Results showed that the hawksbill turtles in ommolgorm Island are similar to other area of the Persian Gulf in some reproduction characters, while they are smaller than other hawksbill turtles in the world. The mean of total number eggs in this island was more than other coastal in the Persian Gulf and close to global mean.