South American River Turtle
Podocnemis expansa
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Testudines
Family
Podocnemididae
Genus
Podocnemis
South American River Turtle belongs to the family Podocnemididae, order unknown, within the Testudines class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The South American River Turtle faces severe population declines due to intensive exploitation for eggs and meat, which has devastated nesting populations across its range. Habitat destruction from dam construction, mining, and deforestation along river systems has further fragmented populations and degraded critical nesting beaches. Climate change and altered river flows compound these pressures by affecting nesting success and food availability.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Large river systems throughout the Amazon and Orinoco basins, including main river channels, tributaries, oxbow lakes, and seasonal floodplains. Requires sandy beaches and riverbanks for communal nesting, particularly on islands and elevated shores that remain above flood levels.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The South American River Turtle faces severe population declines due to intensive exploitation for eggs and meat, which has devastated nesting populations across its range. Habitat destruction from dam construction, mining, and deforestation along river systems has further fragmented populations and degraded critical nesting beaches. Climate change and altered river flows compound these pressures by affecting nesting success and food availability.
Climate change affecting nesting success
Habitat loss from dam construction and river modification
Mining and pollution in river systems
Nesting beach destruction and degradation
Overexploitation of eggs and adults for food
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/south-american-river-turtle