Yellow Spotted Sideneck Turtle

Yellow Spotted Sideneck Turtle

Podocnemis unifilis

Eats

Omnivorous, meaning they eat fruits, leaves, fish, mollusks, and carrion (dead animals).

Lives

Found in South America's Amazon River, they are an aquatic turtle, spending most of their time in the water. They will use the Amazon River, it's tributaries, and flooded forests as their main habitat.

Behavior

Diurnal and social, mainly finding others while basking and during mating season.

Description

Large turtles with dark shells and yellow spots on their heads are easy to identify. Females can grow up to 18 inches long, twice the size of males. They tuck their heads sideways into their shells for protection.

Did you Know?

Mill Mountain Zoo is home to many animals who wouldn't survive being released into the wild or are at risk of extinction.

How can I Help?

To help the Yellow-Spotted Side-Neck Turtle, you can take a few simple steps! First, support conservation efforts by protecting their natural habitats and reducing pollution in rivers and ponds. Avoid buying pets from the wild, as this can harm their populations. If you see one in the wild, give it space and don’t disturb its home. Finally, educate others about these amazing turtles and why they need our help. Together, we can make a difference for the Yellow-Spotted Side-Neck Turtle!

Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Endangered
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild
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