Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Specy

Yellow-spotted River Turtle

Reptiles

The yellow-spotted river turtle, Podocnemis unifilis, is one of South America's largest river turtles, a side-necked species of the family Podocnemididae found through the Amazon and Orinoco basins and river systems of the Guianas. It grows up to about 45 centimeters and 8 kilograms, with a black or brown oval carapace bearing low keels, and takes its name from bright yellow spots on the head that are most vivid in juveniles and fade with age; females can grow to roughly twice the size of males. It favors calm tributaries and large lakes, moving into flooded forests and floodplain lakes during seasonal floods, and is classified as Vulnerable, having been heavily exploited historically for the pet trade.

Facts
Classification
System (Realm)
Freshwater 1
Relationship to People
Kept as Pets 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Scientific Name
Podocnemis unifilis 2
Conservation Status
Vulnerable 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Yellow-spotted river turtle
  • system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis), also known commonly as the yellow-headed sideneck turtle and the yellow-spotted river turtle, and locally as the taricaya, is one of the largest South American river turtles.
  • system (entity description states it plainly, relationship to people)
    It favors calm tributaries and large lakes, moving into flooded forests and floodplain lakes during seasonal floods, and is classified as Vulnerable, having been heavily exploited historically for the pet trade.
  • Speciesbox infobox, conservation status parameter
    status = VU
View the Source
2. Yellow-spotted River Turtle (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Wikidata Q863041 (P225 taxon name)
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.