Hawksbills have been severely killed for "tortoiseshell" jewelry.There is a continuing demand for the hawksbill's shell as well as other products including leather, oil, perfume, and cosmetics. The hawksbill shell commands high prices (currently $255/kilogram), a major factor preventing effective protection. But now they're protected by the U.S. They got the name "Hawksbill" because their beak looked like it belonged to a hawk.Hawksbill sea turtles have two pairs of prefrontal plates between the eyes. The adult's keeled shell is amber with streaks of red-brown, black-brown, or yellow. The underside is whitish-yellow, occasionally with black spots. Adult females range from 24-38 inches (61-96 cm) in length and weigh 60-190 pounds (27-86 kg). The life span of this species of sea turtle is unknown.