Big-headed Pantanal Swamp Turtle - Natural History

Natural History

Nesting starts near the end of the wet season, in April–May, and hatchlings probably emerge between December and March (Cintra and Yamashita, 1989). Clutch size ranges from 4-8 white, rounded (28-32.5 x 25.8–31 mm; 11-20 g), hard-shelled eggs (Cintra and Yamashita, 1989). Incubation takes over six months; hatchlings (about 3.8 mm) have orange-red spots on carapace, plastron, and sides of the neck (Cintra and Yamashita, 1989). Snails form a large part of this turtle's diet.

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