Big-headed turtle | |
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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] | |
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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]
Dermochelyidae is a family of sea turtles which has seven extinct genera and one extant genus, containing one living species, the leatherback sea turtle. The oldest fossils of the group date to the Late Cretaceous.
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.
Chelodina, collectively known as snake-necked turtles, is a large and diverse genus of long-necked chelid turtles with a complicated nomenclatural history. Although in the past, Macrochelodina and Macrodiremys have been considered separate genera and prior to that all the same, they are now considered subgenera of the Chelodina, further Macrochelodina and Macrodiremys are now known to apply to the same species, hence Chelydera is used for the northern snake-necked turtles.
Macrochelys is a genus of very large freshwater turtles in the family Chelydridae, native to the Southeastern and Midwestern United States. Only a single extant species was recognized until 2014, when a study divided it into two or possibly three species. These turtles are easily recognized by three distinct dorsal ridges with raised spikes.
Kinosternon is a genus of small aquatic turtles from the Americas known commonly as mud turtles.
Kinosternoidea is a superfamily of aquatic turtles, which includes two families: Dermatemydidae, and Kinosternidae.
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.
Testudinoidea is a superfamily within the suborder Cryptodira of the order Testudines. It includes the pond turtles, Asian turtles, the monotypic big-headed turtle, and the tortoises.
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.
The red-necked pond turtle is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae endemic to China. It is most likely restricted to Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, although pre-historic skull remains have been found in northern Vietnam and Hainan. Other common names include Kwangtung river turtle and black-necked pond turtle.
The Western New Guinea stream turtle or New Guinea snapping turtle is a species of freshwater turtle in the Chelidae family. It is found in the Bird's Head Peninsula and the Bomberai Peninsula west of Cenderawasih Bay, and on the island of Waigeo of West Papua, Indonesia.
The Burmese eyed turtle, also known as the Bengal eyed terrapin, Burmese peacock turtle or swamp turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae of southern Asia.
The furrowed wood turtle is a species of turtle belonging to the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae found in the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent regions of Central America.
The painted wood turtle or spot-legged wood turtle is a species of turtle belonging to the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae.
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 African forest turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa, where it can be found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda
The African dwarf mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa : in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia. These mud turtles are the smallest of all African turtle species, “Nanus” which they are referred to are one of the 3 smallest turtle species in the world. The other two are Stink Pot Musk and Muhlenberg's Bog Turtles. All 3 species barely reach 4 inches as full grown adults. Like many of the world's chelonians, Pelusios castaneus has the potential to live a long life. Reports typically suggest more than 50 years in captivity for this species.
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.