Heosemys grandis

Common Name: Giant Asian pond turtle

Described by: Gray, 1860

 

Conservation Status: Vulnerable: IUCN Red List 2006

 

CITES: Appendix II


Heosemys grandis range.
(John B. Iverson)

Range: Thailand (in lowland an hill areas of western, southeastern, and peninsular regions), Laos (in lowland and hill areas in central and southern regions), Vietnam (in lowland and hill areas of central and southern regions), Cambodia (in lowland and hill areas), Malaysia (Peninsular) and southern Myanmar. (Stuart et al., 2001)

Habitat: Aquatic. Streams and freshwater marshes at low to mid elevation. (Stuart et al., 2001)

Key Threats: Hunting and trade.

Description

Clutch size: 4-5 eggs (CNMA, 2002)
Diet: Omnivorous. Fruits, vegetation (especially leaves of water hyacinths), and animal matter. (Stuart et al., 2001)

Distinguishing features: Head pale orange with faint black spots and streaks. Spikes in back edge of carapace. Pale vertebral keel on midline of carapace. Serrated rear margin of the carapace. Carapace is brown to olive gray in color. Plastron yellow with black lines radiating outward form a black blotch on each scute, although the black lines sometimes disappear in older animals. (Stuart et al., 2001)

Size: Carapace to 48 cm. (Stuart et al., 2001)

Male/Female: Males have a slightly concave plastron and longer, thicker tails. Females have flat plastrons and shorter tails.

Similar Species: The light colored dorsal line on the carapace, straight seam between femoral and anal scutes and lack of plastron hinge, distinguishes small individuals from Asian Leaf Turtles Cyclemys dentata complex. (Stuart et al., 2001)


Carapace.

Heosemys grandis head.

Plastron.

Hatchling.

This field guide was last updated in August 2006.
See the bibliography.
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