Yellow-headed temple turtle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yellow-headed temple turtle
Yellow-headed temple turtle in Turtle Conservation Center, Cuc-Phuong, Vietnam
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Heosemys
Species:	annandalii
Synonyms
Cyclemys annandalii Boulenger, 1903 Hieremys annandalei M.A. Smith, 1916 (ex errore) Cyclemys annandali Mell, 1929 (ex errore) Cyclemys annandalei — M.A. Smith, 1930 Hieremys annandalii — M.A. Smith, 1930 Hieremys annandali — Mertens, L. Müller & Rust, 1934 Heosemys annandalii — Diesmos, Parham, B.L. Stuart & R.M. Brown, 2005

The yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii) is a large type of turtle. It belongs to the family called Geoemydidae. This turtle naturally lives in Southeast Asia.

What's in a Name?

Why is it called "Yellow-headed Temple Turtle"?

This turtle gets its common name because it is often found near Buddhist temples. These temples are located in the areas where the turtle lives.

The Scientific Name: annandalii

The second part of its scientific name, annandalii, honors a Scottish scientist. His name was Nelson Annandale, and he studied reptiles and amphibians.

How Big Do They Get?

The yellow-headed temple turtle can grow quite large. Its shell, called a carapace, can be over 20 inches (51 cm) long.

What Do They Do?

Living in Water and Eating Plants

H. annandalii turtles love water. They are mostly herbivorous, which means they eat plants.

Protecting These Turtles

Why Are They Endangered?

The yellow-headed temple turtle is an endangered species. This means there are not many left in the wild. Organizations like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) work to protect them. In July 2012, CITES stopped all trade of these turtles. This rule helps prevent people from catching and selling them.

Where Do They Live?

You can find the yellow-headed temple turtle in several countries in Southeast Asia. These include Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. They might also live in Myanmar.

Their Home Environment

Yellow-headed temple turtle at the Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center, Vietnam

These turtles prefer to live in wet forests. They also like freshwater wetlands, which are areas like swamps or marshes. These places provide the water and plants they need to survive.

Life in Zoos

How Long Do They Live in Captivity?

Yellow-headed temple turtles can live for a long time in zoos or special centers. Some have lived for up to 35 years!

Baby Turtles in Zoos

Zoos are helping to increase the number of these turtles. For example, two baby turtles hatched in November 2019 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. This shows that Heosemys annandalii can successfully have babies while living in human care.

Images for kids

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  Leeches, Placobdelloides siamensis on the shell of a yellow-headed temple turtle