Black-breasted leaf turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-breasted leaf turtle |
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| A Black-breasted leaf turtle | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Geoemyda
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| Species: |
spengleri
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The Black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) is a very special type of turtle. People also call it the Vietnamese leaf turtle or the black-breasted hill turtle. This turtle is one of the smallest turtle species in the world!
It lives only in Southeast Asia. Sadly, as of July 16, 2018, this amazing creature is listed as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
Contents
About the Black-breasted Leaf Turtle
What Does It Look Like?
These turtles are super small. They usually weigh between 90 and 150 grams. That's about as much as a small apple! You can easily spot them by the black marks on their belly, which is called a plastron. Their top shell, called a carapace, looks a lot like a dry leaf. This helps them hide in their natural home.
How Do They Behave?
We don't know a lot about how these turtles act in the wild. But scientists think they like to be alone. They also spend most of their time on land. A cool fact about them is that they can move their eyes separately. This helps them look around for danger or food. These turtles can live for about 20 to 24 years.
Where Do They Live?
Geographic Range
Black-breasted leaf turtles live in the mountain forests of China, Vietnam, and Laos. You can find them from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, all the way through China, to the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam. Sometimes, they are found in new places. This happens when people move them through trade or release them.
These turtles have been seen in high places, like 1000 meters up mountains. They are also found at mid-heights, around 500 meters. We don't have a clear map of where they all live. This is because not many surveys have been done.
Their Home
G. spengleri turtles like to live in forests that are still wild and untouched. They prefer areas near shallow, fresh water streams. Their favorite homes are warm, wet forests in mountains. Adult turtles like to hide under trees or in shady spots. They need temperatures between 40°F and 90°F to be comfortable. They also need open areas to lay their eggs.
What Do They Eat?
We haven't seen these turtles eating in the wild very often. But we know they are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. Scientists have looked at their droppings. They found that these turtles eat snails, leaves, fruits, and insects. They might also eat small crustaceans, like tiny crabs.
When they are kept by people, they can eat small bugs and meats. But they really love live prey. This includes earthworms, crickets, slugs, and pill bugs.
How Do They Have Babies?
It's hard to tell how these turtles have babies in the wild. But we know some things about them. Female turtles have a special flexible part on their shell. This helps them lay eggs. Male turtles have a strong, bony shell. In captivity, female turtles usually lay 1 or 2 eggs at a time.
Who Are Their Enemies?
The Black-breasted leaf turtle is good at hiding. Its leaf-like shell helps it blend in with its surroundings. This makes it hard for predators to see them.
Their main enemies include wild boars, hunting dogs, and civets. But the biggest threat to these turtles comes from humans.
Why Are They Endangered?
The Black-breasted leaf turtle is one of the few species that are still surviving. This is because they are small and like to hide. But they are still in danger. They are disappearing because too many are being caught. Also, their homes are being destroyed by things like logging.
These turtles are also caught and sold as pets. Some are even used for traditional medicine. Many of these turtles are sold in markets in China and Hong Kong. This has caused their numbers to drop by about 70%.
Even though many other turtle species are gone or almost gone, the G. spengleri can still be found in some places.
What Is Being Done to Help?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed G. spengleri as an endangered species. China also lists it as a top priority for protected wild animals. However, Vietnam does not have special rules to protect this species.
You can find G. spengleri in some zoos. These include the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, the Cincinnati Zoo, and Fort Wayne's Zoo in the United States. These zoos help protect and study these special turtles.
