Big-headed turtle

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Big-headed turtle
Zolw wielkoglowy.jpg
A big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum)
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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
Gray, 1831 [3]
Synonyms [4]
Platysternon megacephalum megacephalum
  • Platysternon megacephalumGray, 1831
  • Platisternon megacephalusGray, 1834
  • Platysternon megacephalusGray, 1835
  • Emys megacephalaSchlegel, 1838
  • Platysternon magacephalumFitzinger, 1843 ( ex errore )
  • Platysternum megacephalumBoulenger, 1889
  • Platysternon platycephalumMertens, 1959 (ex errore)
  • Platysternum megalocephalumStanek, 1959 (ex errore)
  • Platysternon megacephalum megacephalumWermuth, 1960
  • Platysternon magacephalum megacephalumPritchard, 1979
  • Platysternon megacephalum tristernalisSchleich & Gruber, 1984
  • Platysternon megacephalum tristornalisAlderton, 1988 (ex errore)
Platysternon megacephalum peguense
  • Platysternon peguenseGray, 1870
  • Platysternon megacephalum peguenseWermuth, 1960
  • Platysternon megacephalum vogeliWermuth, 1969
  • Platysternon megacephalum penguenseNutaphand, 1979 (ex errore)
  • Platysternon megacephalum penuenseNutaphand, 1979 (ex errore)
  • Platysternon megacephalum peguensisSharma, 1998 (ex errore)
Platysternon megacephalum shiui
  • Platysternon megacephalum shiuiErnst & McCord, 1987

The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is a species of turtle in the family Platysternidae from Southeast Asia and southern China. [3]

Background

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]

Distribution

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.

Behaviour

Illustration from Indian Zoology (1830-1834) by John Edward Gray Platysternon megacephalum Hardwicke.jpg
Illustration from Indian Zoology (1830-1834) by John Edward Gray

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]

Diet

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]

Exploitation

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]

Subspecies

In addition, two other subspecies, P. m. tristernalis (1984) and P. m. vogeli (1969), have been given, but may be invalid. [12]

Platysternon megacephalum - MHNT Platysternon megacephalum MHNT CHE 1992-19.jpg
Platysternon megacephalum - MHNT

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Fong, J.; Hoang, H.; Li, P.; McCormack, T.; Rao, D.-Q.; Timmins, R.J.; Wang, L.; van Dijk, P.P. (2021). "Platysternon megacephalum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T17585A1423706. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T17585A1423706.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rhodin 2010, pp. 000.107
  4. Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 264–265. doi: 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 . ISSN   1864-5755.
  5. 1 2 "The Big-headed Turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) Project". asianturtleprogram.org. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  6. 1 2 Kirkpatrick, David T. 1995. Platysternon megacephalum. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine, November/December 1995, pages 40 – 47. C/R. Archived May 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  7. meridian.allenpress.com https://meridian.allenpress.com/ccb/article-abstract/9/2/154/26989/Movements-and-Microhabitat-Use-of-Translocated-Big . Retrieved 2023-02-10.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "Platysternon megacephalum (Big-headed Turtle)". Animal Diversity Web .
  9. Sung, Yik-Hei; Hau, Billy; Karraker, Nancy (2016-01-01). "Diet of the endangered big-headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum". Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications. 4: e2784. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2784 . PMC   5157187 . PMID   27994979.
  10. Sung, Yik-Hei; Hau, Billy C.H.; Karraker, Nancy E. (2016-12-13). "Diet of the endangered big-headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum". PeerJ. 4: e2784. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2784 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   5157187 . PMID   27994979.
  11. James E. Barzyk Turtles in Crisis: The Asian Food Markets. The article itself is not dated, but mostly refers to data in the range 1995-2000.
  12. Platysternon megacephalum Archived May 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography