Arakan Forest Turtle
CR

Arakan Forest Turtle

Heosemys depressa

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arakan_forest_turtle

Overview

The Arakan forest turtle is a critically endangered turtle species native to the Arakan Hills in western Myanmar and the bordering Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. The Arakan forest turtle is a semiterrestrial turtle, meaning it can survive in aquatic as well as terrestrial habitats, but adults prefer living in terrestrial habitats.

The Arakan Forest Turtle faces severe pressure from targeted collection for the wildlife trade, particularly for consumption and traditional medicine markets in East Asia, which has historically decimated wild populations. Habitat loss from logging and conversion of forest land in the Arakan Hills further restricts the limited range this species occupies. Its naturally low reproductive output and restricted geographic distribution amplify vulnerability to these combined pressures, making recovery slow even where protective measures are in place.

Threat summary

Habitat

Heosemys depressa inhabits clear, shallow hill streams and adjacent tropical forest floors in the Arakan Hills of western Myanmar, typically at elevations between 150-800 meters. The species requires pristine forest environments with dense canopy cover, clean flowing water, and soft substrate areas suitable for nesting.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Arakan Forest Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Arakan Forest Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Arakan Forest Turtle faces severe pressure from targeted collection for the wildlife trade, particularly for consumption and traditional medicine markets in East Asia, which has historically decimated wild populations. Habitat loss from logging and conversion of forest land in the Arakan Hills further restricts the limited range this species occupies. Its naturally low reproductive output and restricted geographic distribution amplify vulnerability to these combined pressures, making recovery slow even where protective measures are in place.
Where does Arakan Forest Turtle live?
Arakan Forest Turtle occurs in Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Arakan Forest Turtle?
The main threats to Arakan Forest Turtle are 2.1, 2.1.1, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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