Big-headed pantanal swamp turtle facts for kids
The Big-headed Pantanal Swamp Turtle or Pantanal Swamp Turtle (Acanthochelys macrocephala) is a special kind of turtle that lives in the swamps and wetlands of South America. You can find it in countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. It's known for its unusually large head, which helps it eat its favorite foods.
Quick facts for kids Big-headed pantanal swamp turtle |
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Acanthochelys
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| Species: |
macrocephala
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This turtle is the biggest of its kind in South America. It can grow up to 23.5 cm (9.3 in) long, which is about the length of a ruler.
Its Shell
The turtle has a wide, oval-shaped upper shell, called a carapace. This shell is usually dark brown or black. Younger turtles might have lighter brown patterns on their shells. The bottom shell, called the plastron, is yellow. It might have some dark spots, but these often fade as the turtle gets older.
Its Head and Body
The most special thing about this turtle is its very wide head. In fact, its head can be almost a quarter of its body length! The head is dark grayish-brown on top and yellow underneath. It has two small whiskers, called barbels, under its chin. Its neck is also grayish-brown on top and yellow underneath. The legs are gray on the outside and yellow underneath.
Males vs. Females
Female turtles are usually bigger than males. Their upper shells are also more rounded. Male turtles have a slightly curved bottom shell and longer, thicker tails.
Where Does It Live?
The Big-headed Pantanal Swamp Turtle lives in several countries in South America. You can find it in the Pantanal region, which is a huge wetland area. This includes parts of southwestern Mato Grosso, Brazil, central Bolivia, and the Chaco region of Paraguay. It likes to live in marshes, swamps, and slow-moving streams.
Its Life and Habits
These turtles usually start laying their eggs around April or May. This is near the end of the wet season. The baby turtles, called hatchlings, probably come out of their eggs between December and March.
Eggs and Babies
A female turtle lays about 4 to 8 eggs at a time. The eggs are white, round, and have a hard shell. They are about the size of a golf ball. It takes over six months for the eggs to hatch. When the hatchlings are born, they are very small, only about 3.8 cm long. They have cute orange-red spots on their shells and necks.
What It Eats
A big part of this turtle's diet is snails. Its strong, wide head helps it to crush the shells of these snails.
Is It in Danger?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists this species as "Near Threatened." This means that while it's not in immediate danger, its population could become threatened in the future if we don't protect its homes. A specific group of these turtles in the Chaco region is considered "vulnerable," meaning they are at higher risk.
