Reproductive characteristics of Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Kish Island coasts

Hawksbill turtle is a species which endangered and much researchs was not done on condition of this species in Kish Island which is one of main places for nesting. This study was performed for reproductive characteristics Hawksbill turtles of kish Island in 2010-2011. Biological and reproductive characteristics of female turtules and embryos were measured the obtained results contain average weight of turtle 40. 143kg،straight carapace length 65cm،straight carapace width 50. 619cm and the average total of eggs 92. 5±2. 862، number of normal eggs 74. 5±2. 178، number of abnormal eggs 17. 3±1. 548، diameter of eggs 37. 927±0. 19، weight of eggs 30. 793±0. 47، the average straight carapace length 38. 746±0. 18 mm، straight carapace width 30. 792±0. 15 mm and weight 12. 416 ±0. 19gr، percent hatching success 84. 76، incubation period 67 days. The highest correlation between weight and straight carapace length for embryo obtained with correlation coefficient r =0. 858. Results of study showed that there is no significant difference between reproductive characteristics of Hawksbill turtles of Iranian Persian Gulf Islands and countries of Persian Gulf and Oman sea، but size of egg in Persian Gulf region is bigger than other parts of world because of smaller size of female turtle and average lower number of eggs. Percent of hatching success is lower than the other parts of world mainly because of oil pollution.