Heosemys spinosa

(Gray, 1831)

Vernacular names
English : Spiny turtle
French : Héosémyde épineuse

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

Identification
The species grows to 22 cm in shell length for a weight up to around 2 kg. Shell edges with prominent spiny scutes (less visible for big adults). Yellow plastron, marbled brown shell. Dark brown to black head and limbs with red scutes.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in south-east Asia , from South Myanmar and Thailand to Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Philippines. Lives in small rivers in forests, with dense vegetation, up to 1000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : This species is highly threatened and locally on the verge of extinction because of intense hunting pressure for the food market and habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : ESB in Europe

Observation

 

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