Visit. Instead, they curve their neck and tuck it between their front legs. Mailing Address. The Yellow‐spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) is widespread across the Amazon Basin, but like many other turtles their populations have been decimated by humans. The tortoise's legs and tail are generally brown. The aptly named yellow-spotted Amazon turtles can be recognized by the yellow spots on their heads, which fade with maturation in females but remain present in adult males. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008. Diet. PO Box 37012 MRC 5516 Washington, DC … Eastern & Central South America; Habitat. It is also established in parts of Florida as a result of escaped or released pets. These side-necked turtles don’t pull their head straight into their shell. Lakes, ponds, swamps, and lagoons. ... Genome duplications as evolutionary adaptation strategy. Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle Podocnemis unifilis Range. Population Population threats. Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle; Science at Work Help This Species. The giant South American river turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. They are highly aquatic; typically, the females only leave the water to bask and lay 50–150 eggs at communal nesting sites during the dry season. • Groups of turtles can be seen basking in the sun on logs or stones in the middle of rivers and on the shore. Overview. As ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, this behavior functions to warm their bodies. Normal adult Yellow Foots rarely exceed 16 inches - these massive tortoises can grow to 32 inches, and exceed 115 pounds. FEEDING AND DIET Most Amazon aquatic turtles are at least partly carnivorous, feeding on slow-moving invertebrates such … Mostly plants. The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle or yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) is one of the largest South American river turtles.It can grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 8 kg. Their huge size is likely an adaptation to their environment - … Contact. The spots fade to almost nothing in females as they age but males retain the bright spots. • The yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle is diurnal and is most active in mid-morning and afternoon. It has a dark head with yellow spots and a yellow, semi-hinged plastron that allows the tortoise to pull its head and front legs into its shell for protection. 18 hours ago. DESCRIPTION: Yellow Spotted Amazon River Turtles are named for the bright yellow spots seen on their heads which have a base color of olive green or brown.The yellow spots are most prominent in young turtles. Pleurodira includes the yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle (Podocnemis unifilis). General Info | 202-633-4888. For many years, this species was hunted heavily for its tough skin, to make shiny, black leather. The commonest species, the yellow-spotted river turtle, ranges across northern South America, but the extent of its range is not well documented. Found only in the Brazilian and Peruvian Amazon Basin, these Yellow Foots are an incredible sight in person. Over the last century, this extreme hunting pressure reduced the overall population by 99 per cent, and it is now almost extinct in some places, such as Colombia, as well as the Amazon River … The spider tortoise is named for the web-like pattern of yellow lines on its dark brown or black carapace, or shell. The yellow-spotted river turtle, P. unifilis, is found in the Caribbean drainages of Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, and Colombia, the upper tributaries of the Amazon River in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia, Southern Venezuela, and Brazil. Don ’ t pull their head straight into their shell to their -... Nothing in females as they age but males retain the bright spots on the shore was heavily... 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