Platysternon megacephalum lives in rocky, mountain streams and brooks. The water of these streams is usually fast moving and has a temperature of 12° - 17°C which is favored by this species. ( Barbour and Ernst, 1989 ; Kirkpatrick, 1995 )

Physical Description

Platysternon megacephalum is a very odd-shaped turtle with a huge head and a long tail that are almost the same size as its body. Total body length reachs up to 40 cm. Compared to most turtle species, the head of Platysternon megacephalum is oversized for its body. It's triangular and cannot be withdrawn into its shell. The turtle's skull is solid bone and, unlike most turtles, has no openings in the upper surface. Adults usually have a shell about 15-18 cm in length and it is more flattened than many other freshwater turtles. The carapace is yellow to brown, rectangular with a squared-off front and a more rounded back end, while the plastron is usually yellow. The toes are slightly webbed with strong claws. This species is noted to have legs covered with large scales and a tail that is very long and muscular. If needed, the tail can support the entire weight of the turtle.

There is no marked difference between the male and female, except the plastron of the male has a tendency to be more concave than the female.

The young are more brightly marked than the adults and have more pronounced serrations at the rear of the carapace. Also, the tail is often longer than that of an adult. (Inger and Schmidt, 1957; Kirkpatrick, 1995; McCarthy, 1991)

Other Physical Features

ectothermic

bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism

sexes alike