Wildlifeof Malaysia
Northern River Terrapin
Tortoises & Freshwater Turtles
Photo: (c) Sameer Kulkarni, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Batagur baska
Basic stats
Habitat
Tidal areas of estuaries, large rivers and mangrove forests; moves to brackish river mouths to breed
Range
Southeast Asia, including the Sundarbans; considered extinct in much of its former range
Clutch size
10–34 eggs, usually three clutches
Size
Carapace up to 60cm
Weight
Up to 18kg
The northern river terrapin is one of Asia's largest freshwater and brackish-water turtles, reaching a carapace length of up to 60 cm and a weight of 18 kg. The head is rather small, with a pointed, upward-tending snout. The upper shell and soft parts are generally olive-brown and the plastron yellowish. In breeding colour males have a black head and neck with a crimson or orange upper surface and red or orange forelegs (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is strongly aquatic but uses land nesting sites, frequenting tidal estuaries, large rivers and mangrove forests. It prefers fresh water and moves to brackish river mouths in the breeding season, December–March, returning after laying. Females usually lay three clutches of 10–34 eggs. It is considered extinct in much of its former range, and as of 2018 the wild population was estimated at 100 mature individuals (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Northern River Terrapin live in?
- Tidal areas of estuaries, large rivers and mangrove forests; moves to brackish river mouths to breed
- Where is the Northern River Terrapin found?
- Southeast Asia, including the Sundarbans; considered extinct in much of its former range
- How many eggs does the Northern River Terrapin lay?
- 10–34 eggs, usually three clutches
- How big is the Northern River Terrapin?
- Carapace up to 60cm
- How much does the Northern River Terrapin weigh?
- Up to 18kg