Tell your Turtles Apart – Green Vs Hawksbill

If you’ve ever gone turtle-spotting while diving or snorkeling in Singapore, you’ve probably asked this classic question:

“Is that a Green Turtle or a Hawksbill?”

At first glance, turtles look… well, turtle-ish. 😄But once you know what to look for, telling the difference becomes surprisingly easy — even underwater.

Let’s break it down with a simple, diver-friendly turtle identification guide using shell shape, beak, and head scales.

🟢 Green Turtle vs 🟤 Hawksbill Turtle — The Key Differences

1️⃣ The Beak: Overbite vs Smooth Snout

One of the quickest clues is the shape of the mouth.

• Hawksbill Turtle

  • Has a sharp, pronounced overbite

  • Looks a bit like a bird’s beak (hence the name hawksbill)

  • Perfectly designed for picking sponges out of crevices

• Green Turtle

  • Has a rounder, smoother beak

  • No dramatic overbite

  • Built more for grazing on seagrass and algae

👉 Tip for divers: If the turtle looks like it’s smiling politely instead of biting angrily — it’s probably a Green Turtle.

2️⃣ The Shell Edge: Saw-Like vs Smooth

Now look at the outline of the shell, especially along the edges.

• Hawksbill Turtle

  • Shell edge is distinctly saw-like or serrated

  • The rear edges look jagged and uneven

  • Very noticeable once you know to look for it

• Green Turtle

  • Shell edge is smooth and rounded

  • No jagged “teeth” along the rim

  • Overall cleaner, simpler outline

👉 Underwater trick: If the shell edge looks like it could cut butter — Hawksbill.If it looks sleek and streamlined — Green Turtle.

3️⃣ The Scutes (Shell Plates): Overlapping vs Flat

This is one of the most reliable turtle ID features.

• Hawksbill Turtle

  • Central scutes overlap each other

  • Scutes are more pointed toward the front

  • Gives the shell a layered, shingled appearance

• Green Turtle

  • Scutes do not overlap

  • Plates sit flat against each other

  • Creates a smoother, more uniform shell

👉 Photography lovers: Overlapping scutes are a dead giveaway for Hawksbills in photos.

4️⃣ Head Scales: Count the Prefrontal Scales 🧠

Right above the beak and between the eyes are the prefrontal scales — small but powerful ID markers.

• Hawksbill Turtle

  • Two pairs of prefrontal scales (4 total)

• Green Turtle

  • One pair of prefrontal scales (2 total)

👉 Macro divers: This is gold if you’re close enough for a good look.

🌊 Diet & Habitat Clues (Bonus!)

Sometimes behaviour gives it away before anatomy does.

• Hawksbill Turtle

  • Loves coral reefs

  • Feeds mainly on sponges

  • Often seen weaving in and out of reef structures

• Green Turtle

  • Prefers seagrass beds

  • Mostly herbivorous

  • Often spotted cruising calmly or resting on sandy bottoms

  • 
    

Singapore Turtle Trivia Time!

Now for the fun part 👇

Guess which species is our resident turtle atMarina at Keppel Bay?

🟢 Smooth shell edge

🟢 No overlapping scute

s🟢 Gentle, rounded beak

🟢 Calm cruising behaviour

💡 Give it a shot before scrolling back up!

(Hint: it’s not the one with the angry beak 😏)

🐢 Why Turtle Identification Matters

Learning to identify turtles isn’t just cool — it’s important:

• ✔️ Helps divers log accurate marine sightings

• ✔️ Supports conservation and citizen science

• ✔️ Builds awareness of Singapore’s surprisingly rich marine biodiversity

The next time you’re diving locally, take a moment to observe, identify, and appreciate these ancient mariners sharing our waters.

🌱 Final Bubble

The ocean rewards those who look closer.And once you know your Green Turtle vs Hawksbill Turtle differences, you’ll never un-see them again.

📸 Seen a turtle recently?Drop us a photo — we’d love to ID it with you.

Photo Credits: Paulina