Utilization of Brunei Bay (Malaysia) as a developmental and foraging habitat for hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Abstract

Malaysia provides nesting rookeries and foraging grounds for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and a number of important foraging grounds have been identified for hawksbill turtles in Malaysia to date. This study reports the first record of juvenile hawksbill turtle at Brunei Bay (a distance of 60 km from the nearest known foraging ground at Pulau Tiga, Sabah, Malaysia). Genetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences reveal the EilP122 haplotype (GenBank Accession no: KR706173), which was first reported from the hawksbill turtle foraging at Pulau Tiga. The confirmation of the presence of hawksbill turtle at Brunei Bay extends the known distribution of this species in Malaysia and highlights the need for further research at Brunei Bay to understand the developmental and foraging habitat for hawksbill turtle. This finding also highlights the importance of Brunei Bay as a foraging ground in South China Sea, not only for the green turtles but may be also for the hawksbill turtles.