Toadhead turtle

- Mesoclemmys gibba

The Toadhead turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba) it is a smaller representative of the South American necked turtles (Chelidae). These animals have been known to science and the hobby for a long time, but unfortunately they have not been sufficiently investigated so far.

Its distribution is in a wide area of ​​South America., in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, Paraguay and parts of Brazil.

In any case, in Europe mainly animals with Guyanese and Surinamese ancestry are kept.

The Toadhead turtle is small, with a carapace length of 15-18 cm in males and 18 cm in females. In this species, sexual dimorphism is not very evident., although males tend to have longer tails and a more forked plastron at the level of the anal scutes. In Venezuela, individuals with a carapace length of up to 23 cm..

Its head is narrow compared to other species of the same genus, back of head lined with small granules; two short barbules on chin, whose length is not greater than the size of the eye; broad, flattened carapace with a serrated-looking vertebral carina, which is smaller in adults; vertebral scutes wider than long, the third and fifth have an inconspicuous posterior projection towards the keel; the intergular shield completely divides the gulars, but not to the humerals; scales between orbit and eardrum smaller than those on top of head; webbed feet with 5 nails on the forelimbs and 4 in the later;

These turtles live in rivers, as well as in its tributaries and floodplains in the tropics. They are good swimmers and probably quite nocturnal.. Due to its distribution area, the Toadhead turtle it is active all year round and does not need to hibernate.

It is a shy species with nocturnal and aquatic habits that prefers aquatic bottoms.. These turtles change their diet as they mature: juveniles have an omnivorous diet and become more carnivorous as they grow. Some plants have been reported in the diet of juveniles., like the fruits of the palm Mauritia flexuosa and grasses of the species Pennisetum purpureum and Sacharum sinensis; while adults consume fish, Tadpoles, crustaceans, larvae of aquatic insects and other small invertebrates. To build nests, they dig in well-shaded clay soils., close to bodies of water, or at the base of tree trunks. The nests consist of 2-4 eggs longer than wide and hard-shelled. As a defense mechanism against predators, these turtles expel a strong musky odor and bite.

throughout its range, Little is known about their ecology and the status of their populations., reason why it has not been evaluated by the IUCN. In any case, the destruction, habitat fragmentation and pollution are its biggest threat.

The Toadhead turtle tends to socialize well with fish and even with shrimp, but they break the shell of the snails and eat them right away. Estas humpback turtles tend to be shy when kept with other species, and stress in combination with too high a pH value of the water can sometimes lead to skin problems. So, it is recommended to raise the young individually or in small groups of 3 to 5 animals in spacious tanks with lots of cover, and check regularly if they are stressed.

A tank is recommended. 120 x 50 x 60cm minimum to maintain a couple, although males may be better housed separately. The water temperature should vary between 24-28°C. Due to its tropical origin, animals don't hibernate, but they should not be kept in the pond either.

The species feeds almost entirely carnivorously.. This means that only food of animal origin is accepted, except for bananas and sweet berries. The carnivorous component must consist of insect larvae, snails, crustaceans, mussels, worms and insects. Pellets can also be added to this species to prevent deficiency symptoms. (vitamin deficiency, etc.). The shell of cuttlefish as a source of calcium is convenient to keep in our aquaterrarium.

As long as a couple stays, will eventually reproduce. The females lay from 1 to 5 hard shell eggs. These should not be incubated too wet. At a constant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, the animals hatch after a few 150 days; in the nature, the eggs need between 150 and 180 days. This has to do with the slower development of embryos due to fluctuating temperatures.. A fluctuating incubation between 24-29 degrees. In this case, young animals hatch with more vitality.

The price of a "Toadhead turtle" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 90 – 120 EUR.

1. Toadhead turtle, Gibba turtle, Lesser toad-headed turtle (English).
2. Tortue bossue (French).
3. Buckelschildkröte, Gibba-Schildkröte, Krötenkopfschildkröte (German).
4. Tartaruga gibba, Tartaruga toadhead, Cágado-de-poças-da-floresta (Portuguese).
5. Ashna charapitas , Asna charapas , Hediondas , Galápago hediondo , Charapitas de aguajal , Charapitas de cananguchal , Charapitas de altura , Curizas, Tortuga cabeza de sapo (español).