Magdalena River Turtle
CR

Magdalena River Turtle

Podocnemis lewyana

Declining

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

Overview

The Magdalena River turtle or Rio Magdalena river turtle is a species of turtle in the family Podocnemididae, which diverged from other turtles in the Cretaceous Period, 100 million years ago. It is endemic to northern Colombia, where its home range consists of the Sinú, San Jorge, Cauca, and Magdalena river basins.

The Magdalena River turtle faces severe population decline due to intensive egg collection for local consumption and commercial trade, with nesting beaches experiencing near-complete harvest rates. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and urban development along the Magdalena River basin has eliminated critical nesting sites and reduced water quality. Dam construction and river channelization have fragmented remaining populations and altered natural flood cycles essential for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This freshwater turtle inhabits the Magdalena River basin in Colombia, preferring slow-moving rivers, oxbow lakes, and seasonal wetlands with sandy or muddy substrates. Critical nesting habitat includes sandy riverbanks and beaches that flood seasonally, providing optimal conditions for egg incubation.

Marine intertidal· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies reintroductionFormal educationAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in PODOCNEMIDIDAE

VU

Peltocephalus dumerilianus

Unknown
VU

Podocnemis sextuberculata

Unknown
Madagascar Big-headed TurtleCR

Madagascar Big-headed Turtle

Erymnochelys madagascariensis

Declining
VU

Podocnemis erythrocephala

Unknown

Threatened in Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Cavendishia macrocephala

Unknown
EN

Cavendishia sessiliflora

Unknown
VU

Macleania crassa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Magdalena River Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Magdalena River 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 Magdalena River turtle faces severe population decline due to intensive egg collection for local consumption and commercial trade, with nesting beaches experiencing near-complete harvest rates. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and urban development along the Magdalena River basin has eliminated critical nesting sites and reduced water quality. Dam construction and river channelization have fragmented remaining populations and altered natural flood cycles essential for reproduction.
Where does Magdalena River Turtle live?
Magdalena River Turtle occurs in Colombia, and Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Magdalena River Turtle?
The main threats to Magdalena River Turtle are 1.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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