Nesting activity of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata (at Shidvar Island, Hormozgan Province

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata (is one of endangered sea turtles that spawns in Persian Gulf coasts. This study has done during reproductive season of this species (March 2005 to June 2006)in Shidvar Island that is one of most important nesting area in Iran. During this study, nesting parameters of 35 female hawksbill turtles such as nests depths, number and weight of eggs, incubation time and hatching success rate were measured. In this island, clutches had an average of 92 eggs per clutch with mean of mean egg weights 32.94g and a mean of egg diameter of 38.49 mm. the average of incubation time and hatching success were 57.3 and 73.6% respectively. These data show that hawksbill eggs and hatchlings in Shidvar Island and also other parts of Persian Gulf are bigger and larger than other parts of world. These data confirm that Shidvar Island is of tremendous biodiversity importance. This is enhanced by the fact that it is not subject to human habitation and is relatively free from eggs and hatchlings predators. The likelihood that successful conservation of this island can play a positive role in safeguarding regional hawksbill populations is high.