Central American River Turtle

Common Name- Central American River Turtle

Classification: The River turtle is a reptile.

Scientific Name- Dermatemys mawii

Size- 24 in

Mass- 49lbs

Coloration- Usually a uniform brown, close to black or grey or olive.

Lifespan: 8-11 years

Distinctive Features- Shell is the same colors as the body.

Unique Characteristics- Fast swimmers and able to swim up rapids. Endangered because of human over-consumption. A herbivore.

Pictures-

Habitat- Found in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Found in rivers and lakes.

Role in ecosystem (Niche)- It's a herbivore and likes to eat plants.

Food sources: Feeds on varieties of aquatic vegetation and fallen fruits such as insects, earthworms, and millipedes.

Status- Very Endangered due to human over- consumption.

Cultural Significance- They are one of the only animals that eat sea grass, but the grass needs to stay short so it can grow across the ocean floor. Sea turtles keep the grass short and healthy. Also, if the sea turtles become extinct, dune vegetation would loose a huge source of nutrients and would most likely not be as healthy to maintain the dunes, which causes erosion.

Cool Story-

Central American River Turtles are a very endangered species due to human over-consumption. These turtles are very special to us and the Belize Zoo though because they are part of two ecosystems and that means a lot to our society. One day, while a tour guide was fishing along the Belize River, instead of catching a fish, he caught a river turtle. If they had put the turtle back into the water instantly, it may not have lived, but instead they brought it to the Belize Zoo and that’s where it is today. Even though they are very fast swimmers and can swim up rapids, it was lucky enough to not get caught by anyone else that would just put it back in the water.

Resources:

http://www.narragansett.k12.ri.us/NHS/scienceweb/mrreis/Oceanography_files/09s%20websites/Max%20Austin%20and%20Mikey%20c/Humans%20and%20Estuaries.htm

http://www.belizezoo.org/newsletters/a-hicatee-happy-story.html

http://www.arkive.org/central-american-river-turtle/dermatemys-mawii/image-G100978.html

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/june14/protect-estuaries.html

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/estuarylife.html