Spotted Pond Turtle (Geoclemys Hamiltonii)
Conservation status
IUCN: Red List: Vulnerable
Key Descriptions
The spotted pond turtle is dark, freshwater turtle which is predominantly black in coloration coupled with yellow spotty blemishes which are adorned throughout its head & carapace. This contrasting appearance of black on yellow makes them incredibly beautiful with hatchlings having brighter coloration which dulls as it ages.
Habitat
They are endemic to the Indus & Ganges river drainage systems of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan & Nepal, primarily residing in in slow moving locales of water such as rivers & lakes lush with aquatic vegetation.
Social Life
These turtles are shy & passive reptiles that gravitate to aquatic vegetation for the shelter & safety it provides against predators. While mostly active during dawn & dusk where they will be foraging for snail, fish & plants in their environment, Spotted Pond turtles do bask most primarily on rocks & logs in their environment, alternatively floating on the slow moving waters they inhabit in order to thermo regulate in the heat of the sun.
Fun Facts
- Spotted pond turtles are named for the yellow or white spots on their black heads, legs and tails. They have large heads and short snouts, and their webbed feet help them swim. The pond turtle’s carapace, or upper shell, is generally black with bright patterns that fade with age.
- Spotted pond turtles are primarily carnivorous and eat aquatic invertebrates. They use the bony surfaces of their strong jaws to crush the shells of snails, prawns, crabs and other crustaceans. They also eat mollusks, fish, amphibians and cereal grains, and will sometimes graze on grasses.
- Females generally lay two clutches of eggs per year, the first in December or January and the second just before or after the monsoon season in February or March. This timing varies a bit depending on geography; in northern India, the eggs are laid in April and May. Each clutch usually contains about 20-30 eggs, but the largest clutch on record had 36 eggs. The second clutch of the year tends to be slightly smaller than the first. The eggs incubate for about 50-60 days before hatching.
- Spotted pond turtles are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at twilight (dusk and dawn).
Diet
Vegetables, Fish & other small aquatic animals
Key Information
| Origin: | Bangladesh |
| Size: | Up to 40cm |
| Weight: | Up to 5kg |
| Lifespan: | Up to 4Oyears |