Twist-necked turtle

Twist-necked turtle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Chelidae
Subfamily: Chelinae
Genus: Platemys
Wagler, 1830
Species:
P. platycephala
Binomial name
Platemys platycephala
Schneider, 1792[2]
Synonyms[1]
P. p. platycephala (Schneider 1792)
  • Testudo platycephala Schneider 1792:261
  • Testudo planiceps Schneider 1792:pl.7 (senior homonym)
  • Testudo martinella Daudin 1802:377
  • Emys discolor Thunberg in Schweigger 1812:302
  • Emys canaliculata Spix 1824:10
  • Emys carunculata Saint-Hilaire in Cuvier 1829:11 (nomen nudum et dubium)
  • Emys constricta Cuvier in Gray 1830e:17 (nomen nudum)
  • Hydraspis pachyura Boie in Gray 1830e:17 (nomen nudum)
  • Hydraspis constricta Gray 1831d:43
P. p. melanonota Ernst 1984
  • Platemys platycephala melanonota Ernst 1984:347

The twist-necked turtle (Platemys platycephala), also known as the flat-headed turtle, is distributed widely across northern South America. Twist-necked turtles have extremely flat shells that help them hide from predators under rocks and debris. When threatened, this turtle withdraws by twisting its head into its shell. P. platycephala is the only species of the genus Platemys and occurs in northern and central South America. Platemys platycephala means "flat turtle, flat-head" and accurately describes the structure of the head and shell. This species inhabits shallow creek beds and frequently forages on the floor of the Amazon rainforest for insects, amphibians, and mollusks. Camouflage, head and body shape, and advanced sexual anatomy allow this species of turtle to effectively populate much of South America. Mating occurs during rainy months (March–December) and egg deposit occurs during dry months (January–March). Males have been known to behave aggressively towards females during copulation by squirting water from nostrils and biting. A few genomic studies show mosaicism exists among populations of the twist-necked turtle in Suriname. In other words, diploid and triploid levels exist among individuals at this particular location. No threats have been reported for this species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature does not have a current listing. Lack of human consumption due to the species' small size and its wide range explain why scientists are not concerned about this turtle species.

  1. ^ a b Rhodin, Anders G.J.; Inverson, John B.; Roger, Bour; Fritz, Uwe; Georges, Arthur; Shaffer, H. Bradley; van Dijk, Peter Paul; et al. (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group) (3 August 2017). Rhodin A G.J.; Iverson J.B.; van Dijk P.P.; Saumure R.A.; Buhlmann K.A.; Pritchard P.C.H.; Mittermeier R.A. (eds.). "Turtles of the world, 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status(8th Ed.)" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. 7 (8 ed.): 1–292. doi:10.3854/crm.7.checklist.atlas.v8.2017. ISBN 978-1-5323-5026-9. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. ^ Schneider, Johann G. 1792. Beschreibung und Abbildung einer neuen Art von Wasserschildkröte nebst Bestimmungen einiger bisher wenig bekannten fremden Arten. Schriften der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 10:259–284.