Big-headed turtle | |
---|---|
A big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Platysternidae Gray, 1869 [3] |
Genus: | Platysternon Gray, 1831 [3] |
Species: | P. megacephalum |
Binomial name | |
Platysternon megacephalum | |
Synonyms [4] | |
|
The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is a species of turtle in the family Platysternidae from Southeast Asia and southern China. [3]
Previously considered a distinct family placed on occasion in "Kinosternoidea", it was later moved to the Emydidae. This, as well as the subfamily and the genus Platysternon, are monotypic.
The big-headed turtle is named after its unproportionally large head which leads to an inability to retreat into its shell. In order to protect itself it instead has an armored head and sharp beak. [5]
The big-headed turtle is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. [1] [3] It is commonly found in fast flowing streams and waterfalls in rocky areas.
The big-headed turtle is known to readily climb over obstacles in and around rivers and fast streams, using its tail as a prop to extend the reach of its strong claws. It also uses its beak to assist in climbing. [6] It has been reported to climb trees and bushes. These turtles generally move more during the night, and are not prone to moving long distances. They have a general daily range of 0-89.6m and males tend to move further than the females in this species. [7] They are not strong swimmers, and when swimming, this species occasionally arches its tail in the manner of a scorpion. [6] The big-headed turtle cannot pull its head in its shell. That being the case, it will not hesitate to use its powerful jaws to defend itself. Its diet consists of fish, snails and worms. [8] It also tends to eat fruits like the Machilus spp., as well as insects, crabs and mollusks. [9]
Originally assumed to be strictly carnivorous, this appears to be an opportunistic feeder with a significant shift towards omnivory or herbivory. Using fecal matter, big-headed turtles are found to consume fruits ( Machilus and Turpinia arguta), terrestrial insect adults/larva and aquatic larva ( Coleoptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Tricoptera ), mollusks (Sulcospira hainanensis), frogs, rodents, and freshwater crabs. Their eating behavior changes depending on the environmental conditions, but predominantly consume fruits. Seeds partially digested were found to have increased germination success after turtle excretion, possibly connecting their frugivore habits to environmental conditions. [10]
The big-headed turtle is found quite frequently in illegal wildlife trade. [5] It is readily consumed in Asia and is frequently a market item. Hunters capture them on lines with baited straight pins, so this species is rapidly disappearing in the wild. [11] The species is also threatened by its use in the pet trade. [1]
In addition, two other subspecies, P. m. tristernalis (1984) and P. m. vogeli (1969), have been given, but may be invalid. [12]
The giant Asian pond turtle inhabits rivers, streams, marshes, and rice paddies from estuarine lowlands to moderate altitudes throughout Cambodia and Vietnam and in parts of Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
The spiny turtle is a South-East Asian turtle species. It inhabits lowland and hill rainforest, usually dwelling in the vicinity of small streams in hill areas up to 1,000 m above sea level. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Pelochelys is a genus of very large softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. They are found from peninsular India northeast to southern China, and south to Southeast Asia and New Guinea.
The Mexican box turtle is a species of box turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of Terrapene carolina.
The Malayan softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is monotypic in its genus.
Pritchard's snake-necked turtle is a species of turtles in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to a restricted area of Central Province, Papua New Guinea.
Reimann's snake-necked turtle is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Oceania and Southeast Asia.
The Yucatán box turtle is a species of box turtle endemic to Mexico. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of Terrapene carolina.
The peninsula cooter is a species of freshwater turtle in the genus Pseudemys. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the coastal plain cooter when that turtle is not itself considered a subspecies of the river cooter.
The Iberian pond turtle, also known as the Mediterranean pond turtle or Mediterranean turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa.
The Yaqui slider is a species of turtle belonging to the genus Trachemys of the family Emydidae. It is native to Chihuahua and Sonora in northwestern Mexico.
The Cuatro Ciénegas slider, also known commonly as la jicotea de Cuatrociénegas in Mexican Spanish, is a species of turtle belonging to the genus Trachemys of the family Emydidae. The species is native to northeastern Mexico.
The Chaco tortoise, also known commonly as the Argentine tortoise, the Patagonian tortoise, or the southern wood tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to South America.
The western black-bridged leaf turtle is a species of Asian leaf turtle found in southern Indochina.
The Central African mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is endemic to Central Africa.
Pelusios marani, also known as the Gabon mud turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. This species is endemic to Africa.
The Malayan snail-eating turtle is a species of turtle in Malayemys genus of the family Geoemydidae.
The Hunan softshell turtle is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae, the softshells. It is endemic to China, where it occurs in Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Jiangxi provinces. It is found in Taoyuan, Pingjiang, Rucheng, Lingling, and Shaoyang counties of Hunan province.
Mesoclemmys perplexa is a species of turtle from Northeast Brazil.
Mesoclemmys tuberculata is a species of turtle. It is found in northeastern Brazil.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help)