Mesoamerican River Turtle
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| Mesoamerican River Turtle | ||||||||||||||||
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 Dermatemydidae fossil displayed in Hong Kong Science Museum.
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| Dermatemys mawii Gray, 1847 |
The Mesoamerican River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) locally known as the "hickatee" or "tortuga blanca"-(white turtle) is the only species in the family Dermatemydidae. It is a nocturnal, aquatic turtle that lives in larger rivers and lakes in Central America, from southern Mexico to northern Honduras. It is considered an endangered species.
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[edit] Description
Dermatemys species are fairly large turtles, attaining a maximum size of 65 cm (25 inches) in carapace length, and they can weigh in the range of 20 kg (44 lbs).
They have a flattened carapace, that is usually a solid grey or almost black in color. Their plastron is normally cream colored. In juveniles, a distinctive keel is found down the center of the carapace, and the outer edges have serrations. These features are lost as the turtle ages. Its skin is predominantly the same color as the shell, with redish or peach colored markings around the neck and underside. Males can be differentiated from females by yellow markings on either side of their head, and a longer, thicker tail.
[edit] Reproduction
Mating and nesting occurs in the fall, from September to November. Females lay clutches of 6-20 eggs on the banks of waterways that they otherwise would not normally be able to reach without the flooding caused by the seasonal rainfall.
[edit] Conservation status
Rarely found in captivity, the river turtle has been over-hunted because of its value in the food market. Even the hatchlings and eggs are sold as food. The species' normally passive nature makes them relatively easy to catch. As such, they have been listed as a CITES Appendix II to prevent exportation, and there are local laws in place to prevent them from being hunted.
[edit] References
- Vogt et al (2005). Dermatemys mawii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered
