Asian Giant River Turtle

Common name: Malaysian Giant Turtle or Bornean River Turtle
Scientific name: Orlitia borneensis
Family: Bataguridae
Order: Testudines
Class: Reptilia

CHARACTERISTICS:

The Malaysian giant turtle is the largest of the freshwater turtles and can weigh anywhere between 36 kg to 50 kg or more with a shell length of about 80 cm. The majority of these animals are dark colored, the shells being black, brown, or dark gray and not patterned. The neck, limbs, and tail are the same, black, brown, or gray. The head is dark with a single light colored line starting from the mouth and extending to the back of the head. The bottom of the shell is yellowish or a light brown. The shell is narrow, flat and oval shaped. The top is rounded and smooth. The head is large and broad with a slight protruding snout. This turtle has webbed toes, fingers, and outer forelimbs with band-like scales on them and a carapace and plastron that are strongly joined together. The females tail is shorter and thinner than the males tail. There are several differences between the shell of a young Orlitia borneensis and the grown adult. The young shell is higher and peaked and gets more flat, narrow, and smooth, as it gets older.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:

The Malaysian giant turtle is distributed in Malaysia, Borneo, and also Indonesia. They specifically reside in the deep waters of lakes and rivers.

BEHAVIOR:

This species has an aggressive nature but little else is known about the behavior and lifestyle of this rare species.

DIET:

This turtle is an omnivore, eating small fish, plants and sometimes snakes.

REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH:

The age that the turtle reaches sexual maturity is around 10-20 years old. The female will nest on riverbanks or river islands. These turtles eggs are elongated and the shells are hard but brittle. Eggs range in size from 3.7-4.4 by 7.1-8.1 cm. The shell of young hatchlings is around 60 mm in length and has a rough texture, which will get smoother as it grows. Speed of development and the sex of hatchlings are determined by the temperature during incubation.

CONSERVATION STATUS:

This turtle is endangered for many reasons. Its meat is a delicacy in China. The shell of the turtle is believed to heal general health ailments, have sexual rejuvenation properties, and contain cancer-curing properties. In addition to this, they are also sold as pets. The animals are collected in large numbers and illegally smuggled to meat markets in crates. Because the animals are stacked on top of each other with no food or water and injured from their capture, they become dehydrated and infested with parasites such that many do not survive the trip. The animals are caught mostly by hook and line, often leaving the hook in the turtle, keeping it lodged in the mouth or esophagus. In Hong Kong and other countries in Southeast and East Asia there are laws against the trafficking of turtles in general and Indonesia specifically prohibits the trade of the Malaysian giant turtle. When smugglers are caught, much effort is put into keeping the confiscated animals alive. Radiography, ultrasonography, and endoscopy are used to locate fishhooks, prior to surgical removal. Once the turtles health is restored they are sent to different places where they will be safe and able to breed.