Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced from the shells of the larger species of tortoise and turtle, mainly the hawksbill sea turtle, which is a critically endangered species according to the IUCN Red List largely because of its exploitation for this trade. The large size, fine color, and unusual form of the hawksbill's scutes make it especially suitable. The distinctive patterning is referred to in names such as the tortoiseshell cat, several breeds of guinea pig, and the common names of several species of the butterfly genera Nymphalis and Aglais, and some other uses.
A tortoiseshell ornament from Micronesia
Cabinet with tortoiseshell veneers
French singing bird box with a case made out of tortoiseshell.
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus Eretmochelys. The species has a global distribution that is largely limited to tropical and subtropical marine and estuary ecosystems.
Hawksbill sea turtle
Hawksbill sea turtle (top right) in a 1904 plate by Ernst Haeckel
Carapace's serrated margin and overlapping scutes are evident in this individual
Close-up of the hawksbill's distinctive beak