Gene Jarvis: Hawksbill Turtle

Artist: Gene Jarvis
1921 - 1990
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1978
Image Size: 9.5 by 9 inches
Overall Size: 12.75 by 12.5 inches
Medium: Pen and Ink on Hot Press Illustration Board

The smallest of the marine turtles is the Hawksbill Turtle which is found in the warm waters of the tropics. He chooses this home since it provides shallow waters where he can find his diet of plants, sea urchins, and the formidable stinging jellyfish. The shell of this small turtle is covered with horny plates that overlap like shingles. These lovely, mottled plates are valued as jewelry, and subsequently the Hawksbill Turtle is heavily hunted to the point of becoming an endangered species. To catch the Hawksbil Turtle, hunters sometimes use the shark-sucker fish. This fish bears a large suction plate on its head which can easily attach to the turtle's shell and pull him from the sea. Fortunately, the Hawksbill Turtle has a remarkable ability to regenerate lost body parts and hunters often make use of this trait by removing the prized shell, and then turning the turtle back to the sea to regenerate. Another interesting characteristic of the Hawksbill Turtle concerns his nesting activities on the sandy beaches. At the islands, only the females come out of the water, but while they lay their eggs, the males wait for them in the shallow waters. Later, when the young turtles hatch, they must quickly find their way to the sea. Amazingly, they locate the water by sensing the brightness of the sunshine glaring on the water surface. Then they move toward the light, encountering many dangers from predators on their way. However, a sufficient number of young turtles manage to reach the water.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Seychelles 10¢ Hawksbill Turtle stamp issued February 6, 1978.

Artwork Copyright © 1978 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05435

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