turtle photos on Flickr

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: P. expansa is the largest river turtle in South America. The carapace broad, flat; wider in the back than the front. Color is usually olive green to brown. The side-necked turtles have a long neck which can be withdrawn horizontally within the shell, leaving it partly exposed, Males smaller than females, which can weigh up to 90 kg (200 lbs).

Carpace length up to: 80 cm (32 in).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Northern South America: Amazon, Negro and Orinoco River basins.

Found in freshwater; large rivers and their tributaries, lagoons and forest ponds. Restricted to calm waters of large rivers during the dry season, but move into the flooded forest where food is plentiful during the high-water season.

DIET IN THE WILD: Aquatic vegetation and fruit, insects and slow-moving prey and carrion. Mutual cleaning behaviour between individuals of this species has been observed. One turtle will position itself at right angles to a second turtle and use its jaws to pull algae from its shell. The turtles will then switch position

In captivity, it feeds on a vegetarian/fruit diet with a bit of fish added.

REPRODUCTION: During the dry season the Arrau River turtle migrate to nesting sites on beaches. Females dig a nest in which they lay 50–150 spherical eggs, and then cover them with sand. After about 45 days, hatchlings emerge, usually at night or early morning to avoid midday heat and predators, and head directly to water. Colonial nesting and simultaneous hatching helps maximize survival numbers of this perilous journey.

CONSERVATION: IUCN: Lower Risk/conservation dependent. CITES Appendix II. P. expansa eggs and adults have been over-collected for food. These turtles are considered rare throughout the Amazon. Middle Orinoco River has included the protection of nesting beaches, a nursery program for the care and release of hatchlings, and an environmental education program for the public.

MORTALITY and LONGEVITY: can live up to 50 years.

REMARKS:“Art,” as we call our senior turtle (Weight: 20 kg or 44 lbs. Age: unknown.) was confiscated in Miami and came to the SF Zoo via the Miami Metro Zoo in 1997 by government import authorities . The turtle is on loan to us until the zoo has an appropriate location for it. Several younger turtles ha subsequently joined our senior turtle.

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Amazon Flooded Tunnel 2018

Ron's Wordpress Shortlink: wp.me/p1DZ4b-au

arkive www.arkive.org/giant-south-american-turtle/podocnemis-exp...

eol Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/6868408/details

USGS geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/biology/turtles/

IIUCN Red List and CITES Appendix II www.iucnredlist.org/details/17822/0

1-6-13, 10-25-14, 2-28-18

Amigurumi Turtle by cutedesigns

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A cute and chubby amigurumi turtle. :)

baby snapping turtle walking away.png by Jo Naylor

Uploaded with the Flock Browser

turtle by Mr. Lostman

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Turtles by szacsiphoto

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Turtle by Brooke Lee

Blanding's turtle by USFWS Midwest Region

We were excited to spot this large Blanding's turtle soaking up the sun at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota. These turtles don't mature and reproduce until they're 12-21 years old. While adults may live more than 80 years, there is high mortality for juveniles and high predation on eggs. This species is listed as threatened in Minnesota.

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS.

Orange Turtle by Lisa Foster

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Couldn't find anything in the field guides to identify exactly what kind of turtle this is, assume it's a box. He was crossing the lane down to our cottage and after taking a few shots we "air lifted" him to the other side for safety. Box Turtle Goshen, NJ Lisa Foster, photographer

Best Viewed on Black, please

Turtle by Chris Lefever