Malaysian giant turtle

The Malaysian giant turtle or Bornean river turtle (Orlitia borneensis) is a species of turtle in the family Bataguridae. It is monotypic within the genus Orlitia.[2] It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.[1]

Malaysian giant turtle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Orlitia
Gray, 1873
Species:
O. borneensis
Binomial name
Orlitia borneensis
Gray, 1873
Synonyms[2]
  • Orlitia borneensis Gray, 1873
  • Clemmys (Heteroclemmys) gibbera Peters, 1874
  • Bellia borneensis Boulenger, 1889
  • Cistudo borneensis Boulenger, 1889
  • Hardella baileyi Bartlett, 1895
  • Brookeia baileyi Bartlett, 1896
  • Adelochelys crassa Baur, 1896
  • Liemys inornata Boulenger, 1897
  • Brookia baileyi Pritchard, 1967
  • Orlitia borneoensis Ewert, 1979 (ex errore)

This species is the largest freshwater turtle in Southeast Asia, reaching a maximum length of 80 cm (31 inches) and a maximum weight of up to 50 kg (110 pounds). It inhabits large lakes, swamps, and slow-flowing rivers. This mainly piscivorous (fish-eating) species has a dark brown or black carapace which is smooth and oval in shape and a pale yellowish-brown to off-white plastron. The head is powerful, with strong jaws and a slightly projecting snout, and the heads of adults are uniformly colored dark brown to black whereas juveniles are dark mottled with a pale line extending from the mouth to the back of the head. [3] It occasionally takes fallen fruit and may consume and other available vertebrate. This species is exported in huge amounts from Indonesia for its highly prized flesh and despite its rarity it is not protected in Malaysia.[4] Habitat destruction for palm oil plantations and poaching for the Chinese medicinal trade have also contributed to its Critically Endangered IUCN status.[3]

References
  1. Horne, B.D., Das, I., Hamidy, A., Kusrini, M.D., Guntoro, J. & As-singkily, M. (2020). "Orlitia borneensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T15509A724972. Retrieved 12 July 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 238. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. "Malaysian giant turtles". Bristol Zoo. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  4. "Wildlife of RER: Malaysian Giant Turtle". RESTORASI EKOSISTEM RIAU (RER) - Ecological Restoration | Protect and Restore Ecosystems. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
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