Batagur borneoensis

(Schlegel & Müller, 1844)

Vernacular names
English : Painted terrapin
French : Émyde peinte de Bornéo

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Family : Geoemydidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
One of the biggest species of its family reaching a shell length of 80 cm for a weight of 1.7 kg. Unmistakable. Flattened grey shell with black longitudinal bands. Rest of body, gray-brown to pink-white with bright red area on males forehead.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in South East Asia from peninsular Thailand (South) and Malaysia to Sumatra and Borneo. Lives in mangrove swamps and estuaries of large rivers.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species’ situation is critical and it has already disappeared from most of its range because of hunting, poaching, pollution and habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America

Observation

 

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