Madagascan big-headed turtle

Madagascan big-headed turtle
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptile
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Podocnemididae
Genus: Erymnochelys
Species: E. madagascariensis
Grandidier,1867[1]
Binomial name
Erymnochelys madagascariensis[1]

The Madagascan big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis)[1] is a turtle native to the waters of permanent slow moving rivers and lakes in western Madagascar. These turtles, although they are endangered (the 13th most endangered turtle, according to the top 25 most endangered turtles list, issued May 2003), they are commonly eaten for food but they are still commonly shipped from Madagascar to Asia to help meet the demand of Asia's traditional medicine market. A captive breeding program has also been started to prevent the species from becoming extinct. The Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) intends to raise USD$5.6 million to cover a five year 'Global Action Plan' which includes captive breeding and reintroduction projects, trade monitoring, new rescue centers, local conservation plans, and educational programs.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status". Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 000.136. Archived from the original on 2010-12-15. http://www.webcitation.org/5uzfktoIh.