The gem material tortoiseshell comes from which sea turtle?

The gem material tortoiseshell comes from which sea turtle?

• A. Green sea turtle
• B. Hawksbill sea turtle
• C. Leatherback sea turtle
• D. Loggerhead sea turtle

Answer: (B)

Tortoiseshell as a gem material comes from the shell of the hawksbill sea turtle. The hawksbill has thin, glossy scutes with a distinctive pattern that jewelry makers could carve, inlay, or polish, which led to the traditional name tortoiseshell. Other sea turtles—like the green, leatherback, and loggerhead—do not produce the same kind of shell material or appearance, so they aren’t associated with tortoiseshell.

Tortoiseshell as a gem material comes from the shell of the hawksbill sea turtle. The hawksbill has thin, glossy scutes with a distinctive pattern that jewelry makers could carve, inlay, or polish, which led to the traditional name tortoiseshell. Other sea turtles—like the green, leatherback, and loggerhead—do not produce the same kind of shell material or appearance, so they aren’t associated with tortoiseshell.