Savanna side-necked turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Savanna side-necked turtle |
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Podocnemis
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| Species: |
vogli
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The savanna side-necked turtle (Podocnemis vogli) is also known as the Llanos side-necked turtle. This special turtle belongs to a group of turtles called Podocnemididae. It is found only in South America, meaning it is endemic to that continent.
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About the Savanna Side-Necked Turtle
The savanna side-necked turtle gets its name because of how it pulls its head into its shell. Instead of pulling its head straight back, it bends its neck sideways. This is a unique feature of "side-necked" turtles. These turtles are important parts of the ecosystems where they live.
What Does Podocnemis vogli Mean?
The scientific name for this turtle is Podocnemis vogli. The second part of the name, vogli, was chosen to honor a person named Father Cornelius Vogl. He was a Benedictine missionary who lived and worked in Venezuela from 1925 to 1959. Scientists often name new species after people who helped with their discovery or who were important in the region.
Where Do These Turtles Live?
The savanna side-necked turtle lives in the Orinoco river system. This river system flows through a large area called the Llanos. The Llanos is a vast tropical grassland plain located east of the Andes Mountains in Colombia and Venezuela.
The Orinoco River System
The Orinoco River is one of the longest rivers in South America. It flows mainly through Venezuela and Colombia. The river system includes the main river, its many branches, and the wetlands around them. This area provides the perfect home for the savanna side-necked turtle, with plenty of water and food.
Life in the Llanos
The Llanos region is known for its wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, large areas become flooded, creating many temporary ponds and lakes. These watery habitats are where the savanna side-necked turtles thrive. They spend their time swimming, looking for food, and basking in the sun.
What Do Savanna Side-Necked Turtles Eat?
These turtles are mostly herbivores, which means they eat plants. Their diet includes aquatic plants, fruits, and seeds found in their watery homes. They play a role in their environment by helping to spread seeds and control plant growth.
Conservation and Protection
The savanna side-necked turtle is listed under CITES Appendix II. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Being on Appendix II means that while the species is not necessarily threatened with extinction right now, its trade must be controlled to prevent it from becoming endangered. This helps protect the turtles from being over-collected or illegally traded.
See also
In Spanish: Tortuga de río sabanera para niños
