Home › Reptilia › Podocnemididae › Giant South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa)
SPECIES PROFILE
Giant South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa)
Podocnemis
IUCN STATUS
Vulnerable
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable
CLASS
Reptilia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Amazon and Orinoco basins
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
Large rivers and flooded forest
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Reptilia
ORDER
Testudines
FAMILY
Podocnemididae
GENUS
Podocnemis
📋 Description
SIZE
Shell up to 90 cm; up to 90 kg
COLORATION
Dark grey-brown carapace
ADAPTATIONS
Females nest communally on sandbanks; hatchlings 'talk' before hatching
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Large rivers and flooded forest
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Amazon and Orinoco basins
REPRODUCTION
Mass nesting of up to 100 eggs each
DIET DETAILS
Fruit, seeds and aquatic plants
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Egg collection, hunting, dams
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The largest river turtle in South America, famous for mass nesting on Amazon sandbanks.
2
Hatchlings call to each other from inside the eggs to coordinate emerging together.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Rio Trombetas Reserve
Araguaia NP
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
September-November
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Visit protected nesting beaches in the dry season when females haul out en masse to lay eggs.
🐾 You Might Also Want to See...
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
