Twist | 台北市立動物園資訊網

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The South American twist-necked turtles, Platemys platycephala, are the last remaining turtles in the genus Platemys. The other previous members have been recently reclassified (1985) into the genus Acanthochelys. Like many other South American turtles, Platemys are pleurodires or side-necked turtles. The species name, platycephala, is derived from the Greek roots platys (flat) and kephale (head) and thus literally means flat-headed or flat-shelled turtle. According to Pritchard, the common name twist-necked turtle is apparently from the Guyanan word cashipan.

There are two recognized subspecies, Platemys platycephala platycephala and P. platycephala melanonota. The sub-specific name melanonota is from the Greek root melas meaning black. My experience and this article deal exclusively with Platemys platycephala platycephala.

Their range includes most of the northern half of South Am...