The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle[6] (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.
Podocnemis dumeriliana Duméril & Bibron, 1835: 387 (in part)
Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848: 647
Podocnemis tracaya Coutinho, 1868: 149
Chelonemys dumeriliana, Gray, 1870: 83 (in part)
Podocnemis cayennensis, Siebenrock, 1902: 1623
Podocnemis unifilis is a type of side-necked turtles, so called because they do not pull their heads directly into their shells, but rather bend their necks sideways to tuck their heads under the rim of their shells. Side-neck turtles are classified as members of the suborder Pleurodira.
Podocnemis unifilis is a large turtle, and can grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 8 kg. This species can be recognized by its black or brown oval carapace (upper shell) with distinctive low keels on the second and third scutes. Yellow spots on the side of its head give this species its common name. These spots are most prominent in juveniles and fade with age. Females can be up to twice the size of males.
Distribution and habitatedit
These turtles are native to South America's Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers systems of the Guianas.[7] They are found in tributaries and large lakes, naturally calm waters.
Ecologyedit
During the flood season, turtles may venture into flooded forests or floodplain lakes. They feed on fruits, seeds, weeds, aquatic plants, fish, and small invertebrates.[8]
The females lay two clutches of eggs each year, each with four to 35 eggs in it. They make their nests in sandy areas on the banks of rivers, where the eggs will hatch 66 to 159 days after they are laid. The eggs are laid at the peak of dry season so the nest will not be washed away with the floods of the rainy season. Eggs incubated below 32 degrees Celsius will hatch as males, while those incubated above 32 degrees Celsius will hatch as females. Within a few days after hatching, the young turtles begin to forage for food alone. This food includes vegetable matter, grasses, fruits, leaves, carrion and mollusks.
Threats and conservationedit
Podocnemis unifilis was one of the foreign species exploited by the American pet turtle trade in the 1960s. This species is at risk of predation by humans, birds, snakes, large fish, frogs and mammals.[9] Importation of this species is now strictly regulated by federal law, but a captive, self-sustaining population exists in the United States – some groups in zoos, others in the hands of private collectors. Individuals of this species have lived more than 30 years in captivity.
Referencesedit
^Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (2016) [errata version of 1996 assessment]. "Podocnemis unifilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T17825A97397562. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T17825A7506933.en. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
^Troschel, H. (1848). Amphibien, p. 645-661. In Schomburgk, R. (ed.), Versuch einer Zusammenstellung der Fauna and Flora von Britisch-Guiana. Leipzig.
^Schweigger, A.F. (1812). Prodromus monographiae cheloniorum.Konigsbergeiv Für Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik. 1:271-368.
^Gray, J.E. (1831). Synopsis Reptilium or short descriptions of the species of reptiles. Part 1. Cataphracta, tortoises, crocodiles, and enaliosaurians. Treuttel, Wurtz & Co., London.
^Rhodin AGJ, Iverson JB, Bour R, Fritz U, Georges A, Shaffer HB, van Dijk PP, et al. (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group) (2017). Rhodin AGJ, Iverson JB, van Dijk PP, et al. (eds.). "Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status". Chelonian Research Monographs. Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. 7 (8th ed.): 1–292. doi:10.3854/crm.7.checklist.atlas.v8.2017. ISBN9781532350269. S2CID 89826255.
^Murphy, John C. (31 March 2016). "The Herpetology of Trinidad and Tobago: Yellow-headed Sideneck Turtle, Podocnemis unifilis (Family Pelomedusidae)". Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^. Arkive. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
External linksedit
Media related to Podocnemis unifilis at Wikimedia Commons
Ernst, Carl H., and Roger W. Barbour (1989). Turtles of the World, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., and London.
April 08, 2024
yellow, spotted, river, turtle, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, august, 2011, learn, when, remove, this, templ. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message The yellow spotted Amazon river turtle 6 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 Yellow spotted Amazon river turtleAdult at Krefeld ZooConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder TestudinesSuborder PleurodiraFamily PodocnemididaeGenus PodocnemisSpecies P unifilisBinomial namePodocnemis unifilisTroschel 1848 3 SynonymsEmys cayennensis Schweigger 1812 298 4 Chelys Hydraspis Cayennensis Gray 1831 17 5 Hydraspis Cayennensis Gray 1831 42 Emys Terekay Schinz 1833 41 Podocnemis dumeriliana Dumeril amp Bibron 1835 387 in part Podocnemis unifilis Troschel 1848 647 Podocnemis tracaya Coutinho 1868 149 Chelonemys dumeriliana Gray 1870 83 in part Podocnemis cayennensis Siebenrock 1902 1623Podocnemis unifilis is a type of side necked turtles so called because they do not pull their heads directly into their shells but rather bend their necks sideways to tuck their heads under the rim of their shells Side neck turtles are classified as members of the suborder Pleurodira Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Threats and conservation 5 References 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp JuvenilePodocnemis unifilis is a large turtle and can grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 8 kg This species can be recognized by its black or brown oval carapace upper shell with distinctive low keels on the second and third scutes Yellow spots on the side of its head give this species its common name These spots are most prominent in juveniles and fade with age Females can be up to twice the size of males Distribution and habitat editThese turtles are native to South America s Amazon and Orinoco basins as well as rivers systems of the Guianas 7 They are found in tributaries and large lakes naturally calm waters Ecology editDuring the flood season turtles may venture into flooded forests or floodplain lakes They feed on fruits seeds weeds aquatic plants fish and small invertebrates 8 The females lay two clutches of eggs each year each with four to 35 eggs in it They make their nests in sandy areas on the banks of rivers where the eggs will hatch 66 to 159 days after they are laid The eggs are laid at the peak of dry season so the nest will not be washed away with the floods of the rainy season Eggs incubated below 32 degrees Celsius will hatch as males while those incubated above 32 degrees Celsius will hatch as females Within a few days after hatching the young turtles begin to forage for food alone This food includes vegetable matter grasses fruits leaves carrion and mollusks Threats and conservation editPodocnemis unifilis was one of the foreign species exploited by the American pet turtle trade in the 1960s This species is at risk of predation by humans birds snakes large fish frogs and mammals 9 Importation of this species is now strictly regulated by federal law but a captive self sustaining population exists in the United States some groups in zoos others in the hands of private collectors Individuals of this species have lived more than 30 years in captivity References edit Tortoise amp Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 2016 errata version of 1996 assessment Podocnemis unifilis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996 e T17825A97397562 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1996 RLTS T17825A7506933 en Retrieved 28 October 2022 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Troschel H 1848 Amphibien p 645 661 In Schomburgk R ed Versuch einer Zusammenstellung der Fauna and Flora von Britisch Guiana Leipzig Schweigger A F 1812 Prodromus monographiae cheloniorum Konigsbergeiv Fur Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik 1 271 368 Gray J E 1831 Synopsis Reptilium or short descriptions of the species of reptiles Part 1 Cataphracta tortoises crocodiles and enaliosaurians Treuttel Wurtz amp Co London Podocnemis unifilis Reptile Database Rhodin AGJ Iverson JB Bour R Fritz U Georges A Shaffer HB van Dijk PP et al Turtle Taxonomy Working Group 2017 Rhodin AGJ Iverson JB van Dijk PP et al eds Turtles of the World Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy Synonymy Distribution and Conservation Status Chelonian Research Monographs Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises A Compilation Project of the IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 7 8th ed 1 292 doi 10 3854 crm 7 checklist atlas v8 2017 ISBN 9781532350269 S2CID 89826255 Murphy John C 31 March 2016 The Herpetology of Trinidad and Tobago Yellow headed Sideneck Turtle Podocnemis unifilis Family Pelomedusidae Retrieved 20 May 2023 Yellow headed sideneck turtle videos photos and facts Podocnemis unifilis Arkive Archived from the original on 2009 02 20 Retrieved 2018 05 09 External links edit nbsp Media related to Podocnemis unifilis at Wikimedia Commons ARKive Yellow headed sideneck turtle Podocnemis unifilis n d Retrieved April 16 2018 Podocnemis unifilis Yellow spotted River Turtle IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Listed as Vulnerable VU A1acd v3 1 Ernst Carl H and Roger W Barbour 1989 Turtles of the World Smithsonian Institution Press Washington D C and London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yellow spotted river turtle amp oldid 1217491451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
