Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Big-headed Amazon River Turtle)

Peltocephalus dumerilianus, also known as the Big-headed Amazon River Turtle, is a freshwater turtle native to the Amazon Basin. It stands out with its unusually large head and domed shell, making it easily recognizable among river turtles.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Podocnemididae
Genus: Peltocephalus
Species: Peltocephalus dumerilianus

Common Names

Big-headed Amazon River Turtle
Big-headed Sideneck Turtle

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Identification

Description
This turtle has a broad, high-domed carapace that can reach about 40 cm in length. Its most striking feature is its massive head, which is too large to be withdrawn into the shell. The skin is usually dark brown or blackish, and the carapace may be olive to dark brown.

Sexual Dimorphism
Males tend to have longer, thicker tails than females. Females are generally larger in body size.

Native Origin and Distribution

Geographical Range
This species is found across the Amazon River system, including countries like Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.

Preferred Habitat

They prefer slow-moving or still freshwater habitats such as oxbow lakes, floodplain forests, and calm sections of rivers. They are mostly aquatic and rarely leave the water except to bask or nest.

Behavior

Feeding Habits
Peltocephalus dumerilianus is omnivorous. It eats fruits, leaves, small invertebrates, and carrion. Their strong jaws help them crush hard-shelled prey.

Predators
Eggs and hatchlings are often preyed upon by birds, fish, and mammals. Adults have fewer natural predators due to their size and tough shells.

Reproduction

Breeding Season
Breeding typically occurs during the rainy season when river levels are high.

Reproductive Method
Females lay their eggs on sandy riverbanks. Clutch size can range from 8 to 15 eggs. The incubation period depends on environmental temperature and humidity.

Conservation

Extinction Status
Currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to limited information.

Threats
Major threats include habitat destruction, pollution, and hunting for meat and the pet trade.

Conservation Measures
Some parts of its range fall within protected areas. More research is needed to properly assess population trends and enforce conservation.

Economic Importance

It is occasionally hunted for food in local communities. In some places, hatchlings are sold in the pet trade, although this is not common.

Interesting Facts

Unlike many other turtles, its head is so large that it cannot retract it into the shell at all.
It is one of the lesser-known Amazon turtles, and scientific data on this species is still quite scarce.
Its powerful jaws can easily crush snails, making it one of the more specialized feeders among its family.

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.