# Giant Asian pond turtle (*Heosemys grandis*) The Giant Asian pond turtle is a big, friendly turtle that loves to swim in water. It has a hard shell that protects it and can be found basking in the sun on rocks or logs. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Giant Asian pond turtle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Giant_Asian_Pond_Turtle_heosemys_grandis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Drew Avery, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_Asian_Pond_Turtle_heosemys_grandis.jpg) ## Appearance The Giant Asian pond turtle has a large, dark brown to black carapace, often with subtle yellow streaks. Its head is dark with distinctive yellow or orange spots and stripes, contrasting with a yellowish plastron. It is visually different from smaller pond turtles due to its impressive size. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Geoemydidae - **Genus:** Heosemys ## Interesting facts - Baby turtles have a distinct ridge down their shell that flattens as they grow. - It's one of the largest freshwater turtles found across Asia! - Their shells can grow over 1.5 feet long, making them quite imposing! - They use their strong jaws to crush tough-shelled prey like snails! ## Special abilities - **Cloacal Breathing:** Giant Asian pond turtle can breathe underwater through specialized sacs in its cloaca, allowing it to stay submerged for extended periods. - **Ambush Snapper:** Giant Asian pond turtle can quickly extend its long neck to snap up unsuspecting prey, making it an effective hunter in murky waters. - **Armored Shell:** Giant Asian pond turtle has a hard, domed shell that provides excellent protection against predators and environmental hazards. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-47 cm - **Weight:** 4-10 kg - **Lifespan:** 50-70 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-10 - **Incubation:** 60-100 days - **Maximum Depth:** 3 m ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore eating plants, fruits, insects, snails, and small fish found in its watery home. - **Age differences:** Young turtles eat more insects; adults consume more plant matter. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plants, fallen fruit, insects, snails, small fish, amphibians - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Siamese crocodile](https://www.snappit.app/explore/siamese-crocodile) (*Crocodylus siamensis*) — large predators target young turtles in their habitat. - **Hunts:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — hunted for food and the illegal pet trade. - **Eats:** Giant apple snail (*Pila ampullacea*) — an important food source, crushing shells with powerful jaws. - **Eats:** Japanese rice fish (*Oryzias latipes*) — actively hunts small fish that swim close to the surface. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch turtles from a distance and don't try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Giant Asian pond turtle? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Giant Asian pond turtle? 30-47 cm ### How much does Giant Asian pond turtle weigh? 4-10 kg ### How long does Giant Asian pond turtle live? 50-70 years ### How fast can Giant Asian pond turtle move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Giant Asian pond turtle eat? An omnivore eating plants, fruits, insects, snails, and small fish found in its watery home. ### How fast can Giant Asian pond turtle swim? 5 km/h ### Where is Giant Asian pond turtle usually found? Wetlands ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Giant Asian pond turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-asian-pond-turtle)