Mesoclemmys Turtle

1 Overview

Very little is known about the Mesoclemmys turtle; comprehensive data on its reproduction and habits are lacking. This widely distributed species has attracted little attention and is rarely kept as a pet—a forgotten turtle.

Chinese name: Mesoclemmys turtle

Latin name: Mesoclemmys

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Emydidae

Genus: Emys

Species: Mesoclemmys

Distribution: Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, eastern Ecuador, northern Venezuela, parts of Colombia, and northeastern Brazil.

Reproduction: Oviparous (egg-laying); little is known about its reproductive behavior.

Diet: Omnivorous in captivity.

Habitat: It inhabits small streams, rivers, and ponds shaded by dense forest.

Size: Adults reach about 23 cm in length.

2 Physical Characteristics

The Mesoclemmys turtle has a small head colored reddish-brown to dark gray, with soft, granular skin. It is a small species whose carapace rarely exceeds 23 cm. The carapace is dark brown to black with a central keel. The plastron ranges from reddish-brown to yellow, with large brown blotches on the scutes. The bridge and the underside of the marginal scutes may be brown or yellow. Juveniles from Peru have a black carapace, yellow marginal scutes, and a black plastron marked with some yellow spots.

3 Health & Care

The Mesoclemmys turtle is poorly understood; even its reproductive traits have drawn little attention. It is uncommon in domestic markets, kept by only a few people in its native range, and often without serious husbandry.

1. Reproductive Habits

Reproduction is oviparous. No data exist on courtship or mating. The turtle is known to lay eggs in various ground locations, always near water. In one case in Colombia, a clutch was laid in a vegetable garden. The eggs have hard shells, are elliptical, white or rose-red, about 32 × 44 mm. One captive female’s eggs hatched after an incubation period of 200 days.

2. Diet

Little is known about its natural diet. Lamar (1986) noted that it readily eats anuran larvae from rainforest ponds. In captivity it takes fish, rodents, various invertebrates, dog food, and occasionally some plant matter. Because so few are kept in captivity, no definitive diet is established; if you keep one, experiment to learn its preferences.

4 Habitat & Environment

The Mesoclemmys turtle’s environment is similar to that of most turtles. The wild is harsh but offers vast space for adaptation that captivity cannot match, so provide the best suitable environment you can.

1. In the Wild

They inhabit small streams, rivers, and ponds shaded by dense forest. This nocturnal turtle shelters in the muddy creeks and isolated pools around Iquitos, beneath thick forest cover. During the dry season it may undergo a dormant period called aestivation.

2. Tips for New Owners

When you first get a turtle, do not rush to feed, soak, or heat it. First check its health: head, eyes, carapace, plastron, limbs, and tail for new or old injuries. If it is healthy, you can keep it as follows.

After arrival, place the turtle in a bright, temperature-stable indoor area for at least two hours to acclimate and avoid temperature shock, with a container of water (preferably water left to stand for a few days) nearby. After two hours, divide the water: one portion to soak the turtle, one to make a light salt solution (use cautiously). Soak the turtle in plain water just deep enough to cover the shell for one hour (to rehydrate), then place it in the light salt solution for about 30 minutes (to disinfect). After disinfection, move it into the prepared habitat.

5 Care Guidelines

Just as people need time to adjust to a new environment, a turtle needs an acclimation period. The optimal temperature for feeding and activity is 23–28°C. Aquatic turtles generally adapt faster than semi-aquatic or terrestrial ones and start eating sooner; captive-bred turtles adapt faster than wild-caught ones, often feeding within days, while wild-caught individuals may take days, a month, or longer—all normal. Remember: turtles rarely starve, but many are lost to well-meaning mishandling.