Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates & Small Pets : Malaysian Giant Turtle FactsShow Video Details ↓ Woman: Here we have a Malaysian giant turtle. Its scientific name is orlidio forninsis. They're found in large bodies of fresh water such as lakes and rivers. They're a highly aquatic species and they are known from only Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. You can see that this is a fairly large turtle. Its carapace, which is its top shell, can reach about 31 inches or 2 and a half feet in length. The majority of these animals are very dark colored. They have a very narrow carapace and it's very oval. The head is relatively large and broad with a slightly projecting snout. Like many turtles, the males often have longer, thicker tails than the females do. It takes about 10 to 20 years for this species to become sexually mature and the females will nest on river banks or river islands. These turtles have very elongated eggs and the shells are hard but very brittle. The speed of development and the sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature that they're incubated at. This species of turtle is an omnivore, eating both plant and animal matter. Um, this species is actually endangered. It's endangered for a variety of reasons. First, its meat is considered a delicacy in China. The shell of the turtle is actually believed to heal general health ailments such as cancer and it's even believed to have sexual rejuvenation properties. This turtle is often smuggled in very large numbers into meat markets. They are kept in crates stacked on top of one another without food and water. It often leads to the turtle become dehydrated and parasitized. They are actually caught by hooks and lines that get caught in their esophagus and their mouths. There are laws against trafficking these turtles in general, especially in Indonesia, but it still happens and it's still a very common occurrence. [silence] … |