EN

Claudius angustatus

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Central American snapping turtle faces substantial pressure from wetland drainage and conversion of seasonal marshes and ponds to agricultural land across its restricted range in the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent lowlands. Local harvesting for subsistence consumption and regional food markets further depletes populations that already exist in fragmented, low-density pockets. Because the species depends on ephemeral aquatic habitats that dry seasonally, disruption of hydrological cycles through irrigation diversion and groundwater extraction compounds habitat loss.

Threat summary

Habitat

Claudius angustatus inhabits shallow, slow-moving freshwater environments including seasonal ponds, marshes, ditches, and swamp margins across the lowlands of the Yucatán Peninsula, Belize, and Guatemala, often in waters with dense vegetation and soft substrates.

Other threatened species in KINOSTERNIDAE

CR

Vallarta Mud Turtle

Kinosternon vogti

Declining
VU

Kinosternon hirtipes

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EN

Staurotypus salvinii

Declining
EN

Kinosternon cora

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Claudius angustatus classified as Endangered?
Claudius angustatus is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Central American snapping turtle faces substantial pressure from wetland drainage and conversion of seasonal marshes and ponds to agricultural land across its restricted range in the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent lowlands. Local harvesting for subsistence consumption and regional food markets further depletes populations that already exist in fragmented, low-density pockets. Because the species depends on ephemeral aquatic habitats that dry seasonally, disruption of hydrological cycles through irrigation diversion and groundwater extraction compounds habitat loss.
Where does Claudius angustatus live?
Claudius angustatus occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Claudius angustatus?
The main threats to Claudius angustatus are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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