Madagascan big-headed turtle
| Madagascan big-headed turtle | |
|---|---|
| Photographed at Berenty Reserve | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Pleurodira |
| Family: | Podocnemididae |
| Subfamily: | Erymnochelyinae |
| Tribe: | Erymnochelyini |
| Genus: | Erymnochelys Baur, 1888 |
| Species: | E. madagascariensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Erymnochelys madagascariensis (Grandidier,1867) | |
The Madagascan big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) is a turtle native to the waters of permanent slow moving rivers and lakes in western Madagascar. These turtles are critically endangered and have been evaluated to be the most endangered turtle in the world by a 2018 review. Due to its ancient origins and threatened status, it is ranked as #1 on the EDGE of Existence programme's list of priority reptiles.