Spotted pond turtle, Indian spotted turtle
The Black pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) is a freshwater turtle found only in South Asia. The part of its scientific name, hamiltonii, is in honor of Scottish botanist and ichthyologist Francis Hamilton.
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Black pond turtle is mainly black with small yellowish or white spots. Its carapace is much elevated and has three interrupted keels or series of nodose prominences corresponding to the vertebral and costal shields. The posterior border of the carapace is strongly serrated in young, but feebly in the adult. The nuchal is moderate, broader posteriorly than anteriorly. The first vertebral is not or scarcely broader anteriorly than posteriorly. The second and third vertebrals are broader than long in the young, nearly as long as broad in the adult, and narrower than the costals. The plastron is large, angulated laterally and truncated anteriorly. The posterior lobe of the plastron is much narrower than the opening of the shell, nearly as long as the width of the bridge, deeply notched posteriorly. The head is rather large. The snout is very short and not projecting. The upper jaw is emarginated mesially. The width of the mandible at the symphysis nearly equals the horizontal diameter of the orbit. A large shield covers the upper surface of the snout and the crown, sometimes divided into three, one shield around the upper jaw and one on each side between the eye and the ear. The digits are webbed to the claws. The tail is extremely short. The shell is dark brown or blackish, elegantly marked with yellow spots and radiating streaks, and the soft parts are dark brown or blackish, with round yellow spots, largest on the head and neck.
Black pond turtles occur in southern Pakistan (Indus and Ganges River drainages), northeastern India (Assam), Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. They inhabit shallow, standing waters with thick vegetation, such as ponds, rivers, oxbow lakes, and marshes.
Black pond turtles live both on land and in water. During warm days they usually stay submerged in the water and become most active at dusk and dawn. Black pond turtles are silent and spend their time singly. They communicate with each other during the breeding season using non-vocal low-frequency sounds like hissing and grunting.
Black pond turtles are omnivores, however, they mainly feed on various aquatic invertebrates including snails, insects, freshwater crustaceans, and dragonfly larvae. They also eat a wide range of vegetable matter.
Black pond turtles lay their eggs between February and late May. Females dig a bowl-shaped nest in the soil concealed within vegetation. They lay 2 clutches during the breeding season consisting of 12-36 eggs; however, the second clutch is usually smaller. Incubation takes around 50-60 days. In captivity, young Black pond turtles become reproductively mature between 6 and 8 years of age.
The main threats to Black pond turtles include habitat loss due to the expansion of agricultural land, destruction of nesting habitat, and illegal pet trade. These turtles also often get caught and drown in fishing nets.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Black pond turtle total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.