< /strong> Today the editor, Master Dai, is here to get acquainted with the Malay Fruit Turtle.
Latin name: Notochelys platynota
English name: Malayan Flat-shelled Turtle
Family and genus classification: Crestozoa, Chelonidae, Freshwater Turtles
p>Characteristics:
Malay fruit turtles can be identified by the 6 or 7 vertebral scutes on their flat carapace (all other freshwater turtles have 5 block vertebral shield). There is a shorter one with no continuous ridge, and the flat carapace is olive, light yellowish brown or reddish brown. The carapace of juvenile turtles is bright green. The head is brown, and the larvae have 2 light yellow vertical stripes. There are complete hinge structures on the plastron and fully webbed toes. In addition, the tail of adult males appears to be relatively longer and thicker, and the plastron is slightly concave.
Natural History:
This turtle rests in shallow water with abundant aquatic plants, such as swamps, wetlands and forest streams. It is a herbivore that mainly eats aquatic plants, but there have been records of two attacking an elephant trunk snake (Acrochordus javanicus). Apart from knowing that a 20.5cm female turtle laid three large, hard-shelled eggs measuring 56x27-28mm, we know very little about its growth.
Dispersion:
The dispersion ranges from southern Thailand, through Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, to Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
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