Rio magdalena river turtle
A species of South american river turtles Scientific name : Podocnemis lewyana Genus : South american river turtles
Rio magdalena river turtle, A species of South american river turtles
Scientific name: Podocnemis lewyana
Genus: South american river turtles
Content
Description General Info
Photo By danielhincapie , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The Magdalena River turtle or Rio Magdalena river turtle (Podocnemis lewyana) is a species of turtle in the Podocnemididae family. It is endemic to Colombia, where it is confined to the Magdalena River basin.
General Info
Lifespan
60-70 years
Diet
Rio magdalena river turtle's diet primarily consists of plant-based foods such as leaves, fruits, and seeds. It exhibits dietary preference towards fruits of emerged aquatic plants, displaying unique foraging habits in aquatic environments.
Appearance
Rio magdalena river turtle is a medium-sized freshwater turtle with a smooth, broad carapace, and leathery, olive-brown skin. The carapace is domed, dark grayish-brown and adorned with ridges along the scutes edges, while the underside is uniformly pale. Males have longer and thicker tails compared to females. There are no prominent changes in appearance with age.
Behavior
Rio magdalena river turtle is a predominantly aquatic species with a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. It displays unique nesting habits, typically laying eggs in the sandbanks of river edges. Rio magdalena river turtle exhibits a solitary nature, interacting chiefly during the mating season. Notably, females' guard their nests aggressively against predators, a distinctive survival adaptation to its riverine habitat.
Population
Decreasing
Photo By danielhincapie , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Side-necked turtles Species
Rio magdalena river turtle