Tortoiseshell Tortoiseshell 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 an endangered species largely because of its exploitation for the material. The large size, fine colour 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. Tortoiseshell was widely used from ancient times in the West
Hawksbill sea turtle tribe Chelonini, which includes the herbivorous green turtle. The hawksbill probably evolved from carnivorous ancestors. Linnaeus originally described the hawksbill sea turtle as "Testudo imbricata" in 1766, in the 12th edition of his "Systema Naturae". In 1843, Austrian zoologist Leopold Fitzinger moved it into genus "Eretmochelys". In 1857, the species was temporarily misdescribed as "Eretmochelys imbricata squamata". Two subspecies are accepted in "E. imbricata's" taxon. "E. i. bissa" refers to populations that reside in the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic population is a separate subspecies, "E. i. imbricata". The nominate subspecies is the Atlantic taxon, because Linnaeus' type specimen was from