Malaysian giant turtle

Last updated

Malaysian giant turtle
Orlitia borneensis.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Orlitia
Gray, 1873
Species:
O. borneensis
Binomial name
Orlitia borneensis
Gray, 1873
Synonyms [3]
  • Orlitia borneensisGray, 1873
  • Clemmys (Heteroclemmys) gibberaPeters, 1874
  • Bellia borneensisBoulenger, 1889
  • Cistudo borneensisBoulenger, 1889
  • Hardella baileyiBartlett, 1895
  • Brookeia baileyiBartlett, 1896
  • Adelochelys crassaBaur, 1896
  • Liemys inornataBoulenger, 1897
  • Brookia baileyiPritchard, 1967
  • Orlitia borneoensisEwert, 1979 ( ex errore )

The Malaysian giant turtle or Bornean river turtle (Orlitia borneensis) is a species of turtle in the family Bataguridae. It is monotypic within the genus Orlitia. [3] It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia. [1]

This species is the largest freshwater turtle in Southeast Asia, reaching a maximum length of 80 cm (31 inches) and a maximum weight of up to 50 kg (110 pounds). It inhabits large lakes, swamps, and slow-flowing rivers. This mainly piscivorous (fish-eating) species has a dark brown or black carapace which is smooth and oval in shape and a pale yellowish-brown to off-white plastron. The head is powerful, with strong jaws and a slightly projecting snout, and the heads of adults are uniformly colored dark brown to black whereas juveniles are dark mottled with a pale line extending from the mouth to the back of the head. [4] It occasionally takes fallen fruit and may consume and other available vertebrate. This species is exported in huge amounts from Indonesia for its highly prized flesh and despite its rarity it is not protected in Malaysia. [5] Habitat destruction for palm oil plantations and poaching for the Chinese medicinal trade have also contributed to its Critically Endangered IUCN status. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earless monitor lizard</span> Species of lizard

The earless monitor lizard is a semiaquatic, brown lizard native to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. It is the only living species in the family Lanthanotidae and it is related to the true monitor lizards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine forest turtle</span> Species of turtle

Siebenrockiella leytensis is a species of freshwater turtle endemic to the Philippines. It is classified as critically endangered. It is known as the Philippine forest turtle, the Philippine pond turtle, the Palawan turtle, or the Leyte pond turtle. Despite the latter common name, it does not occur in the island of Leyte but is instead native to the Palawan island group. It is locally known as bakoko in Cuyonon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant Asian pond turtle</span> Species of turtle

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiny turtle</span> Species of turtle

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian giant softshell turtle</span> Species of freshwater turtle

The Asian giant softshell turtle, also known commonly as Cantor's giant softshell turtle and the frog-faced softshell turtle, is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia. The species is critically endangered and in the 20th century has disappeared from much of its former range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern river terrapin</span> Species of turtle

The northern river terrapin is a species of riverine turtle native to Southeast Asia. It is classified Critically Endangered by the IUCN and considered extinct in much of its former range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amboina box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle is a species of Asian box turtle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brahminy river turtle</span> Species of turtle

The brahminy river turtle or crowned river turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to South Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roti Island snake-necked turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle, also commonly known as McCord's snakeneck turtle, is a critically endangered turtle species. It is named after Rote Island in Indonesia where it was first discovered. Some individuals were later discovered in East Timor, and are considered a distinct subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burmese flapshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Burmese flapshell turtle, is a species in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asiatic softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Asiatic softshell turtle or black-rayed softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the Trionychidae family. Despite its name, it is not the only softshell turtle in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle is a large species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayan softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Malayan softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is monotypic in its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted terrapin</span> Species of turtle

The painted terrapin, painted batagur, or saw-jawed turtle is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae. It was formerly in its own genus, Callagur, but has been reclassified to the genus, Batagur.

<i>Elseya branderhorsti</i> Species of New Guinea turtle

Elseya branderhorsti, also known commonly as Branderhorst's turtle and Branderhorst's snapping turtle, is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to southern New Guinea, in West Papua Indonesia and Western Province of Papua New Guinea. Until recently it has been a confusing species due to its lost holotype and its sympatry with another, undescribed, species. E. branderhorsti is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN RedList in part due to its vulnerability to the Asian turtle trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oaxaca mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Oaxaca mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Both the common name and the scientific name derive from Oaxaca, a Mexican state. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated this species as "data deficient" as there is insufficient information available to judge its conservation status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black marsh turtle</span> Species of turtle

Siebenrockiella crassicollis is a freshwater turtle endemic to Southeast Asia. It is one of two species classified under the genus Siebenrockiella in the family Geoemydidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant musk turtle</span> Species of turtle

The giant musk turtle, also known commonly as the Chiapas giant musk turtle or the Mexican giant musk turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is found in Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enigmatic leaf turtle</span> Species of turtle

Cyclemys enigmatica, also known as the enigmatic leaf turtle, is a species of Asian leaf turtle. It is found in the Greater Sunda Islands and the Malay Peninsula.

The Burmese narrow-headed softshell turtle, also known commonly as the Myanmar narrow-headed softshell turtle and Van Dijk's chitra, is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

References

  1. 1 2 Horne, B.D.; Das, I.; Hamidy, A.; Kusrini, M.D.; Guntoro, J.; As-singkily, M. (2020). "Orlitia borneensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T15509A724972. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T15509A724972.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 1 2 Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 238. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN   1864-5755. S2CID   87809001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Malaysian giant turtles". Bristol Zoo. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  5. "Wildlife of RER: Malaysian Giant Turtle". RESTORASI EKOSISTEM RIAU (RER) - Ecological Restoration | Protect and Restore Ecosystems. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2020-11-21.