At a Glance
The Magdalena River Turtle only lives in the Sinú and Magadenla River basins, where it primarily lives along river banks and on sandy beaches. This turtle synchronizes its reproduction with seasonal river level fluctuations, timing nesting with changing water. Females will typically build nests in gravel or sandy banks during the dry season or a temporary dry spell during the rainy season that is called “veranillo,” which translates to “little summer.” The turtles lay eggs during periods when the water is low in the rivers.
There is a big size difference between male and female Magdalena River Turtles. The females can be nearly four times the size of male turtles and they have brightly red-colored heads.
The Magdalena River Turtle is culturally significant to communities that live along the Sinú and Magadenla River basins and they harvest the turtles for food. Hydropower dams along the rivers change the water levels and when the dams release water they flood the turtle nesting sites. Forest around the rivers has been cleared for agriculture. Baby turtles are also targets for the illegal pet trade.
At a glance
Taxa
Reptiles
Geography
Colombia
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Freshwater lowland rivers; floodplains; wetlands
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Egg harvesting; hunting of juveniles and adults; habitat loss and degradation; hydroelectric dams; illegal pet trade
Potential Recovery Actions
Habitat recovery; nest protection; nest transfer; release of hatchlings
