Madagascar Big-headed Turtle

About the Madagascar Big-headed Turtle

The Madagascan big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) is a turtle native to the waters of permanent slow moving rivers and lakes in western Madagascar. These turtles are critically endangered and have been evaluated to be the most endangered turtle in the world by a 2018 review. Due to its ancient origins and threatened status, it is ranked as #1 on the EDGE of Existence programme's list of priority reptiles.

It is a highly evolutionary distinctive species, the only member of the ancient family Podocnemidae found outside of South America. It diverged from its closest living relative, Podocnemis, during the Late Cretaceous, about 78 million years ago. Fossils of podocnemid turtles that are suggested to be closely related to Erymnochelys belonging to the same tribe Erymnochelyini, are known from the Cenozoic of Africa and Europe, with the youngest remains of turtles belonging to Erymnochelyini in mainland Africa dating to the Pliocene.

The Madagascan big-headed turtle is one of the most endangered turtles in the world, and is also included in the Turtle Conservation Funds (TCF) top 25 endangered. It has a hard dark brown shell enclosing all... Wikipedia →