Giant Asian pond turtle
Species of turtle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis) inhabits rivers, streams, marshes, and rice paddies from estuarine lowlands to moderate altitudes (up to about 400 metres (1,300 ft)) throughout Cambodia and Vietnam and in parts of Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and India.[1][5]
| Giant Asian pond turtle | |
|---|---|
| Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi, Thailand | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Geoemydidae |
| Genus: | Heosemys |
| Species: | H. grandis |
| Binomial name | |
| Heosemys grandis (Gray, 1860)[3] | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
| |
Description
Slight variations in coloration can be seen among the species. The carapace of the giant Asian pond turtle has a brown to black coloration with a distinct ridge along the center while the plastron is yellow in color. The head is gray to brown in color.[6]
Habitat and behavior
Capable of living in water or on land the giant Asian pond turtle can be located along bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and canals. The giant Asian pond turtle is omnivorous and finds food in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Their diets consist of worms, larvae, insects, snails, deceased animals, and aquatic and terrestrial plants.[7] Similarly to other species of turtles, the giant Asian pond turtle has developed adaptations and different techniques for capturing prey in both types of environments.[8]
Major threats
Gallery
- Adult, carapace view, in Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi
- Adult, plastron view, in Kaeng Krachan District
- Juvenile in Tha Yang District, Phetchaburi
- Juvenile, carapace view, in Tha Yang District
- Juvenile, plastron view, in Tha Yang District