Giant Asian Pond Turtle
Heosemys grandis
Class
Reptilia
Order
Testudines
Family
Geoemydidae
Giant Asian Pond Turtle
Range
Southeast Asia
Size
8 - 10 in
Habitat
Rivers, streams, lakes, swamps, marshes, and surrounding lands
Young
Clutch: 2 - 3 eggs
Incubation: 70 days
Diet
Fruit, aquatic plants, and small animals
IUCN Status
Vulnerable
Semi-aquatic
Giant Asian pond turtles are among the largest hard-shelled, semi-aquatic Asian turtles.
Built to Swim and Walk
This species has strong limbs and webbed toes so that it can swim in water or walk on land with great ease. It has a characteristic light-orange/yellow head and its shell is grey-brown.
Status
Though these turtles are protected by Vietnamese law, their numbers continue to dwindle. They are in rapid decline due to the large-scale trade in food and medicinal products. Their habitat is also threatened by drainage and pollution.