The giant Asian pond turtle (''Heosemys grandis'') inhabits rivers, streams,

marsh In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p More in genera ...

es, and rice paddies from estuarine lowlands to moderate altitudes (up to about ) throughout

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and in parts of

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and

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Description

Slight variations in coloration can be seen among the species. The carapace of the giant Asian pond turtle has a brown to black coloration with a distinct ridge along the center while the plastron is yellow in color. The head is gray to brown in color.

Habitat and behavior

Capable of living in water or on land the giant Asian pond turtle can be located along bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and canals. The giant Asian pond turtle is omnivorous and finds food in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Their diets consist of worms, larvae, insects, snails, deceased animals, and aquatic and terrestrial plants. Similarly to other species of turtles, the giant Asian pond turtle has developed adaptations and different techniques for capturing prey in both types of environments.

Major threats

The main area of concern is the illegal capture and export of these turtles for use as food and (less commonly) as pets in parts of Asia. Additionally, their habitat is threatened by land conversion for agriculture.Van Dijk, P. P., Stuart, B. L., & Rhodin, A. G. (Eds.). (2000). Asian Turtle Trade: Proceedings of a Workshop on Conservation and Trade of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises in Asia. ''Chelonian Research Monographs'', 2.

Gallery

File:Heosemys grandis (carapace).jpg, Adult, carapace view, in Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi File:Heosemys grandis (plastron).jpg, Adult, plastron view, in Kaeng Krachan District File:Heosemys grandis (juvenile).jpg, Juvenile in

Tha Yang District Tha Yang (, ) is a district (''amphoe'') in the southern part of Phetchaburi province, western Thailand. Etymology In 1910, the western part of the district (which now is Kaeng Krachan district) was covered by dense forest. The main trees are ...

, Phetchaburi File:Heosemys grandis (juvenile, carapace).jpg, Juvenile, carapace view, in Tha Yang District File:Heosemys grandis (juvenile, plastron).jpg, Juvenile, plastron view, in Tha Yang District File:Giant Asian Pond Turtle heosemys grandis.jpg, In

Singapore Zoo The Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens or Mandai Zoo, is a zoo located on the margins of Upper Seletar Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. It is operated by the Mandai Wildl ...

References

External links

''Heosemys grandis'' Species Description (on Heosemys.org)

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2179263 Heosemys Turtles of Asia Reptiles of Southeast Asia Reptiles described in 1860