Yellow-headed Temple Turtle
CR

Yellow-headed Temple Turtle

Heosemys annandalii

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-headed_temple_turtle

Overview

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

Heosemys annandalii faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the international pet trade and traditional medicine markets. Habitat destruction from palm oil plantations and urban development has fragmented remaining forest areas, while agricultural expansion continues to reduce suitable nesting sites. The species' slow reproductive rate makes recovery particularly challenging once populations are depleted.

Threat summary

Habitat

This turtle inhabits lowland tropical rainforests, preferring areas near streams and wetlands with dense canopy cover. It requires both terrestrial and aquatic microhabitats within primary and secondary forest systems across Southeast Asia.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Yellow-headed Temple Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Yellow-headed Temple 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. Heosemys annandalii faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the international pet trade and traditional medicine markets. Habitat destruction from palm oil plantations and urban development has fragmented remaining forest areas, while agricultural expansion continues to reduce suitable nesting sites. The species' slow reproductive rate makes recovery particularly challenging once populations are depleted.
Where does Yellow-headed Temple Turtle live?
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle occurs in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Vietnam. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Yellow-headed Temple Turtle?
The main threats to Yellow-headed Temple Turtle are 2.1, 5.1, 5.1.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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