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 are critically endangered and have been evaluated to be the most endangered turtle in the world by a 2018 review.[3] Due to its ancient origins and threatened status, it is ranked as #1 on the EDGE of Existence programme's list of priority reptiles.[4]
It is a highly evolutionary distinctive species, the only member of the ancient family Podocnemidae found outside of South America. It diverged from its closest living relative, Podocnemis, during the Late Cretaceous, about 78 million years ago.[5] Fossils of podocnemid turtles that are suggested to be closely related to Erymnochelys belonging to the same tribe Erymnochelyini, are known from the Cenozoic of Africa and Europe, with the youngest remains of turtles belonging to Erymnochelyini in mainland Africa dating to the Pliocene.[6]
Descriptionedit
The Madagascan big-headed turtle is one of the most endangered turtles in the world, and is also included in the Turtle Conservation Funds (TCF) top 25 endangered. It has a hard dark brown shell enclosing all the soft parts of the body and, as its name indicates, a very large head. Young turtles have a soft pattern of fine black lines on their shells, but they disappear with age.[7]
Habitatedit
This species inhabits large areas with freshwater such as permanent slow streaming rivers, backwaters and lakes. Many of the hatching and juvenile turtles move into smaller rivers, where they can grow quickly and safely before going into deeper and larger bodies of water.
Rangeedit
It can be found in the western lowland areas of Madagascar.[8]
Threatsedit
The main threat for this species is that they are heavily exploited for food, caught in nets, fish traps and by hooks and lines. It is also hunted for illegal export to Asia for the traditional medicinal market. Another threat is land development as it destroys its natural habitat.
Despite their vulnerability to extinction, they are commonly eaten for food and 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 US$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.
Referencesedit
^ abcRhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5: 000.136. doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v3.2010. ISBN978-0965354097. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17.
^Gumbs, Rikki; Gray, Claudia; Wearn, Oliver; Owen, Nisha (2018). "Tetrapods on the EDGE: Overcoming data limitations to identify phylogenetic conservation priorities" (PDF). PLOS ONE. 13 (4): e0194680. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1394680G. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194680. PMC5894989. PMID 29641585.
^"Species". EDGE of Existence. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
^Vargas-Ramírez, Mario; Castaño-Mora, Olga V.; Fritz, Uwe (2008-12-20). "Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of ancient South American and Malagasy river turtles (Testudines: Pleurodira: Podocnemididae)". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 8 (5): 388–398. doi:10.1016/j.ode.2008.10.001. ISSN 1439-6092.
^Pérez‐García, Adán (June 2023). "A lower Pliocene Erymnochelyini turtle (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae) from the Democratic Republic of Congo". The Anatomical Record. 306 (6): 1396–1410. doi:10.1002/ar.25073. ISSN 1932-8486.
^. Arkive. Archived from the original on 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
^. Arkive. Archived from the original on 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
April 15, 2024
madagascan, headed, turtle, erymnochelys, madagascariensis, turtle, native, waters, permanent, slow, moving, rivers, lakes, western, madagascar, these, turtles, critically, endangered, have, been, evaluated, most, endangered, turtle, world, 2018, review, ancie. 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 are critically endangered and have been evaluated to be the most endangered turtle in the world by a 2018 review 3 Due to its ancient origins and threatened status it is ranked as 1 on the EDGE of Existence programme s list of priority reptiles 4 Madagascan big headed turtlePhotographed at Berenty ReserveConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder TestudinesSuborder PleurodiraFamily PodocnemididaeGenus ErymnochelysBaur 1888Species E madagascariensisBinomial nameErymnochelys madagascariensis Grandidier 1867 1 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Habitat 3 1 Range 4 Threats 5 ReferencesTaxonomy editIt is a highly evolutionary distinctive species the only member of the ancient family Podocnemidae found outside of South America It diverged from its closest living relative Podocnemis during the Late Cretaceous about 78 million years ago 5 Fossils of podocnemid turtles that are suggested to be closely related to Erymnochelys belonging to the same tribe Erymnochelyini are known from the Cenozoic of Africa and Europe with the youngest remains of turtles belonging to Erymnochelyini in mainland Africa dating to the Pliocene 6 Description editThe Madagascan big headed turtle is one of the most endangered turtles in the world and is also included in the Turtle Conservation Funds TCF top 25 endangered It has a hard dark brown shell enclosing all the soft parts of the body and as its name indicates a very large head Young turtles have a soft pattern of fine black lines on their shells but they disappear with age 7 Habitat editThis species inhabits large areas with freshwater such as permanent slow streaming rivers backwaters and lakes Many of the hatching and juvenile turtles move into smaller rivers where they can grow quickly and safely before going into deeper and larger bodies of water Range edit It can be found in the western lowland areas of Madagascar 8 Threats editThe main threat for this species is that they are heavily exploited for food caught in nets fish traps and by hooks and lines It is also hunted for illegal export to Asia for the traditional medicinal market Another threat is land development as it destroys its natural habitat Despite their vulnerability to extinction they are commonly eaten for food and 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 US 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 edit a b c 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 PDF Chelonian Research Monographs 5 000 136 doi 10 3854 crm 5 000 checklist v3 2010 ISBN 978 0965354097 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 17 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Gumbs Rikki Gray Claudia Wearn Oliver Owen Nisha 2018 Tetrapods on the EDGE Overcoming data limitations to identify phylogenetic conservation priorities PDF PLOS ONE 13 4 e0194680 Bibcode 2018PLoSO 1394680G doi 10 1371 journal pone 0194680 PMC 5894989 PMID 29641585 Species EDGE of Existence Retrieved 2023 06 07 Vargas Ramirez Mario Castano Mora Olga V Fritz Uwe 2008 12 20 Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of ancient South American and Malagasy river turtles Testudines Pleurodira Podocnemididae Organisms Diversity amp Evolution 8 5 388 398 doi 10 1016 j ode 2008 10 001 ISSN 1439 6092 Perez Garcia Adan June 2023 A lower Pliocene Erymnochelyini turtle Pleurodira Podocnemididae from the Democratic Republic of Congo The Anatomical Record 306 6 1396 1410 doi 10 1002 ar 25073 ISSN 1932 8486 Madagascar big headed turtle videos photos and facts Erymnochelys madagascariensis Arkive Archived from the original on 2011 11 09 Retrieved 2012 08 20 Madagascar big headed turtle videos photos and facts Erymnochelys madagascariensis Arkive Archived from the original on 2011 11 09 Retrieved 2012 08 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Madagascan big headed turtle amp oldid 1214302769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
