Yellow-spotted river turtle

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Yellow-Spotted River Turtle

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Pleurodira
Family:	Podocnemididae
Genus:	Podocnemis
Species:	P. unifilis

Binomial name

Podocnemis unifilis

The Yellow-spotted river turtle is one of the largest South American river turtles, It can grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 8 kg. This species can be recognized by its black or brown oval carapace (upper shell) with distinctive low keels on the second and third scutes. Yellow spots on the side of its head give this species its common name. These spots are most prominent in juveniles. Females can be up to twice the size of males. Note that the photo is of a juvenile.

Podocnemis unifilis (the scientific name for this species) is a type of side-necked turtle, so called because they do not pull their heads directly into their shell, but rather bend the neck sideways to tuck the head under the rim of the shell. Side-neck turtles are classified as members of the suborder Pleurodira.

These turtles are found in tributaries and large lakes of South America's Amazon Basin. During flood season, they may venture into flooded forests or floodplain lakes. They feed on fruits, weeds, fish, and small invertebrates.

The females lay two clutches of eggs each year, each with 4 to 35 eggs in it. They make their nests in sandy areas on the banks of rivers where the eggs will hatch 66 to 159 days after they are laid. The eggs are laid at the peak of dry season so that the nest will not be washed away with the floods of the rainy season.

[edit] References

Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). Podocnemis unifilis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1acd v2.3)