Savannah Side-necked Turtle

Savannah Side-necked Turtle (Podocnemis vogli) sunbathing.
CITES II due to habitat loss mainly near urban areas and over hunting especially in the Llanos.
Hato Masaguarel working farm and biological station, Guárico Province, VENEZUELA. South America.
L average 23-36cm, Wgt 2kg. Females larger than males. They dig shallow nests in sandy soil, often far from nearest water source. 7-13 eliptical eggs 40x25mm in size.
They are diurnal spending sunny morning out on logs and nights in the water semi submerged in mud. They are omnivorous, consuming seeds, leaves, aquatic plants, fish, insects & suspended material in water.
HABITAT: Lagoons, swamps, Moriche palm swamps, generally not preferring larger rivers.
RANGE: Llanos & Orinoco of Colombia, Venezuela.
The Llanos are flood plains stretching north of the Orinoco River to the Andean foothills, covering 300,000sq km in Venezuela and another 220,000 sq km in Colombia. This area has poor soil but is rich in its river systems which floods in the wet season leaving shallow marshes which nourish a high concentration of birds and animals.

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Filename: OR2769_Savannah_Side-necked_Turtle.jpg
Copyright: © Pete Oxford
Image Size: 3670x5515 / 8.0MB; Biological Station CITES II Guarico Province Habitat loss Hato Maseguarel Hunting pressure Podocnemis vogli Reptile Savannah Side-necked Turtle South America Terrapin Turtle Venezuela people
Contained in galleries: Orinoco/Venezuela

Savannah Side-necked Turtle (Podocnemis vogli) sunbathing.<br />
CITES II due to habitat loss mainly near urban areas and over hunting especially in the Llanos.<br />
Hato Masaguarel working farm and biological station, Guárico Province, VENEZUELA. South America.<br />
L average 23-36cm, Wgt 2kg. Females larger than males. They dig shallow nests in sandy soil, often far from nearest water source. 7-13 eliptical eggs 40x25mm in size.<br />
They are diurnal spending sunny morning out on logs and nights in the water semi submerged in mud. They are omnivorous, consuming seeds, leaves, aquatic plants, fish, insects & suspended material in water.<br />
HABITAT: Lagoons, swamps, Moriche palm swamps, generally not preferring larger rivers.<br />
RANGE: Llanos & Orinoco of Colombia, Venezuela.<br />
The Llanos are flood plains stretching north of the Orinoco River to the Andean foothills, covering 300,000sq km in Venezuela and another 220,000 sq km in Colombia. This area has poor soil but is rich in its river systems which floods in the wet season leaving shallow marshes which nourish a high concentration of birds and animals.