Big-headed turtle

Big-headed turtle

Big-headed turtle, Platysternidae

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Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Genus
SPECIES
Platysternon megacephalum
Length
40 cm

The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum ) is a species of turtle in the family Platysternidae from Southeast Asia and southern China.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

It is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Habits and Lifestyle

The big-headed turtle is known to readily climb over obstacles in and around rivers and fast streams, using its tail as a prop to extend the reach of its strong claws; it also uses its beak to assist in climbing. It has been reported to climb trees and bushes. It is not a strong swimmer, and when swimming, this species occasionally arches its tail in the manner of a scorpion. The big-headed turtle cannot pull its head in its shell. That being the case, it will not hesitate to use its powerful jaws to defend itself. It is a fish, snail and worm eater.

Lifestyle

Population

References

1. Big-headed turtle Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-headed_turtle
2. Big-headed turtle on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17585/97386926

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