Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle

About Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtles

Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles have a dark, domed shell with yellow to orange markings on their head and a single barbel on the chin that is used as a sensory organ. Males can be identified by large yellow patches on their heads. Additionally, adult female turtles tend to be larger than males. Female shells average 17 inches long while males range from 8 to 15 inches long.

This species is relatively long-lived, with individuals averaging 60 to 70 years old. These turtles are able to tolerate wide temperature fluctuations, eliminating the need for this species to hibernate in the winter. These diurnal turtles are generally solitary and sedentary, though they may sometimes be seen sunning in small groups on sunken logs or along riverbanks.

Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle at the Akron Zoo

The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles can be found in the mixed-species rainforest habitat in Komodo Kingdom.

Classification

Order: Testudines
Family: Podocnemididae
Genus: Podocnemis
Species: unifilis

Fun Fact

Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles are the largest river turtles in South America.

Habitat

Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles prefer to take up residence in the rainforest in slow-moving freshwater, oxbow ponds and lakes. During the flood season, these turtles may move into flooded forests or flood plain lakes where the water current is slower.

Geographic Range

The turtles can be found in northern South America throughout Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Diet

Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles will eat fruits, weeds, fish and small invertebrates.

Population Status

These turtles are listed as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN Red List. This is due in part to the large import and sale of these turtles in the 1960s. Tens of thousands of turtles were sold at dime stores for $1.50 apiece. The turtles and their eggs are also used for food in some South American countries. When the females come onshore to lay their eggs, the turtles and eggs are often collected and eaten.

Field Conservation

In the aftermath of the Asian Turtle Crisis, the Turtle Survival Alliance was formed in 2001 as an effort to preserve ongoing turtle and tortoise conservation projects. Ideally, the organization hopes to eliminate the possibility of any turtle extinctions.

With many species of turtles and tortoises at the Akron Zoo, we’ve partnered with the Turtle Survival Alliance to aid in the protection of our shelled friends by supporting field conservation that focuses on protecting turtle and tortoise habitats.

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Yellow-Spotted Amazon RiverTurtle