Black-lined Toadhead Turtle

Description:

This is a side-necked fresh water turtle that has an unusually large head, hence the name, "Toad-headed Turtle." This was a young one measuring about 12-15 cm over the carapace. The carapace has a fairly sharp keel running its length in juveniles which gradually loses its sharpness as the turtle ages. It is a very dark green to black with white showing between scales on the neck and head and the bottom fringe of the carapace. The plastron is also dark.

Habitat:

This turtle was found along the edge of a small stream in the Amazon rainforest of Southeast Ecuador (650 masl).

Notes:

The name was changed from Mesoclemmys raniceps to Batrachemys raniceps in 2012. These turtles can actually move fairly rapidly on land.