Asian Yellow Pond Turtle - Five Sisters Zoo

Distinctive yellow stripe down their face and neck, with a carapace (shell) that is generally dark brown, olive and black. Males can be identified by a thicker and shorter tail, as well as being smaller than females. A large amount of variation exists in coloration depending on the location the turtle comes from.

Facts

Diet: Omnivore; plants, seeds, insects, and tadpoles or fish.

Weight: 320g

Length: 19cm

Habitat: China, Japan, and Vietnam; prefer forested wetlands and lowland freshwater rivers and creeks.

Life Span: 20 years in the wild, up to 30 years under human care

Adapted to Survive

Can burrow into mud during dry spells and enter a torpor-like state until the weather changes

Threats

Climate change; pet trade and human consumption; habitat loss

IUCN Conservation Status

Critically Endangered