Podocnemis expansa (Arrau turtle)

The Arrau turtle, Podocnemis expansa, is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It’s found in South America’s major river systems and is famous for its synchronized mass nesting events known as arribadas.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Podocnemididae
Genus: Podocnemis
Species: Podocnemis expansa

Common Names

Arrau turtle
Giant South American river turtle
Charapa (locally in some regions)

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Identification

Description
Adult Arrau turtles have broad, smooth, and flattened carapaces that can grow over 80 cm in length. The color ranges from dark brown to olive, and their limbs are strong and paddle-like for swimming.

Sexual Dimorphism
Females are much larger than males. Males have longer, thicker tails and a slightly more curved plastron.

Check more turtles from the Podocnemis genus

Podocnemis vogli (Savanna Side-necked Turtle)

Podocnemis unifilis (Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle)

Podocnemis sextuberculata (Six-tubercled Amazon River Turtle)

Native Origin and Distribution

Geographical Range
Native to the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo River basins. Found in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

Preferred Habitat

They live in large slow-moving rivers, oxbow lakes, and flooded forests. During nesting season, they migrate to sandy beaches along the riverbanks.

Behavior

Feeding Habits
They are mostly herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, fruits, and algae. Occasionally they may eat small invertebrates.

Predators
Eggs and hatchlings are preyed upon by birds, fish, caimans, and humans. Adults have few natural predators.

Reproduction

Breeding Season
Breeding usually takes place during the dry season. Nesting often happens between September and December, depending on the region.

Reproductive Method
Females lay up to 100 eggs in sandy nests. Multiple females gather in large groups for nesting, which is a rare behavior among turtles.

Conservation

Extinction Status
Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Threats
Overharvesting of eggs and adults, habitat destruction, pollution, and illegal trade.

Conservation Measures
Protected areas, egg harvesting bans, nest monitoring, community education programs, and rescue operations have been set up to aid recovery.

Economic Importance

The species has been hunted for its meat and eggs for centuries. In some regions, it’s still a part of traditional diets and local trade, although now mostly illegal or regulated.

Interesting Facts

Arrau turtles are known to communicate vocally, especially during hatching and migration.
They travel hundreds of kilometers to reach nesting sites.
The synchronized nesting (arribada) is a rare behavior among freshwater turtles and draws attention from researchers and conservationists worldwide.

About Author

Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.