testudines

Podocnemis expansa. Also known as: Arrau turtle; Giant South American turtle; Giant Amazon River turtle; Arrau sideneck turtle; Amazon River turtle; Arrau. Location: Main Crocodile House (mixed with Yacare caiman).

Cuora trifasciata. Also known as: Chinese three-banded box turtle; Chinese three-striped box turtle; Golden coin box turtle. Location: Realm of the Red Ape (RotRA).

Macrochelys temminckii. Location: Reptile House (enclosure adj. gift shop).

Malacochersus tornieri. Location: Little Africa.

Cuora flavomarginata. Also known as: Chinese box turtle; golden-headed turtle. Location: Reptile House.

Chelus fimbriata. Also known as: mata-mata, matamata. Location: Reptile House (Nursery Room).

Podocnemis expansa. Also known as: Arrau turtle; Giant South American turtle; Giant Amazon River turtle; Arrau sideneck turtle; Amazon River turtle; Arrau. Location: Reptile House.

Chelonoidis niger. Also known as: Galápagos giant tortoise. Juvenile.

Geoemyda spengleri. Also known as: Vietnamese leaf turtle, Black-breasted hill turtle. Location: Realm of the Red Ape.

Chelus fimbriata. Also known as: mata-mata, matamata. Location: Reptile House (Nursery Room).

Podocnemis expansa. Also known as: Arrau turtle; Giant South American turtle; Giant Amazon River turtle; Arrau sideneck turtle; Amazon River turtle; Arrau.

Do note that this image was taken on July 8th, 2023, at the Honolulu Zoo, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Do note that this image was taken on July 8th, 2023, at the Honolulu Zoo, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Do note that this image was taken on July 8th, 2023, at the Honolulu Zoo, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Its always cool to be able to capture animals in a way that you can see features that you wouldn't normally be able to, like the texture on the outer edge of the mouth here. Not 100% sure on the species ID, as the zoo keeps Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises in the same yard.

I really loved how the shell looked with those wet spots on it. I'm not 100% sure on the species ID since the giant tortoise yard has both Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises, but after watching a video about the differences the features of this individual best match Aldabra.

I was looking at the fairly recent news of the arrival of the Malagasy big headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) at Jersey zoo in the UK which is now the only place outside of Madagascar to hold this species. Freshwater turtles are an incredibly threatened group of reptiles for many...