Yellow-spotted river turtle

The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle, also known as the yellow-spotted river turtle, is a captivating creature native to South America. These turtles can grow quite large, reaching lengths of up to 45 cm and weighing as much as 8 kg. One of their most distinctive features is their black or brown oval shell, which exhibits low ridges on the second and third scutes. They also bear yellow spots on their heads. Interestingly, female yellow-spotted river turtles can grow to be twice the size of males.

These turtles belong to the species Podocnemis unifilis and are part of a group called side-necked turtles, which means they tuck their heads sideways under the edge of their shells. They are members of the suborder Pleurodira and are found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as in rivers across the Guianas. They prefer calm waters such as tributaries and large lakes, and during flood seasons, they might move to flooded forests or other lakes. Their diet includes fruits, aquatic plants, fish, and small invertebrates.

Female yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles lay eggs twice a year, with each clutch containing between 4 and 35 eggs. They select sandy areas along riverbanks to make their nests, ensuring that the eggs won't be washed away by floods by laying them during the dry season. The eggs take between 66 and 159 days to hatch. The temperature during incubation determines the sex of the hatchlings: below 32 degrees Celsius results in males, while above 32 degrees Celsius results in females. Once they hatch, young turtles quickly start searching for food, eating a variety of plant matter, fruits, and small animals.

In the 1960s, the yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle became popular in the pet trade, prompting strict regulations on their importation to protect the species. These turtles face threats from many predators, including humans, birds, snakes, large fish, frogs, and mammals. Despite these dangers, there is a thriving captive population in the United States, where these turtles can live for over 30 years.