At a Glance
It might feel like the Four-eyed Turtle is always watching you because of bright spots on its head that look like extra sets of eyes! Some turtles have four spots on their heads that look like two sets of eyes and some have two spots. This turtle is native to streams and rivers in tropical evergreen forests in Asia. Its range includes the eastern Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and upper tributaries of the Mekong Delta in Laos.
The main threat to the Four-eyed Turtle is collection for the pet trade and for its meat. Scientists are unsure how many Four-eyed Turtles are left in the wild, but estimate that the species has undergone a 90% decline across its range.
At a glance
Taxa
Reptiles
Geography
China; Lao PDR; Vietnam
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Freshwater
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Unsustainable exploitation for illegal trade
Potential Recovery Actions
Strengthen protection in key sites; conservation breeding; reintroduction
