Found across the vast Amazon and Orinoco river basins, this species is a giant compared to most freshwater turtles. Its broad, domed shell is usually dark gray or brown, and its powerful limbs and webbed feet make it an excellent swimmer, perfectly adapted for life in wide, flowing rivers. What sets it apart from smaller river turtles is not only its size but also its spectacular nesting behavior, which brings thousands of individuals together at once.

Unlike solitary turtle species, the Giant Amazon river turtle is famous for its mass nesting events, called arribadas. During these events, sometimes tens of thousands of females gather on sandy riverbanks at the same time to dig nests and lay eggs. This synchronized nesting strategy overwhelms predators—though birds, fish, and mammals eat many eggs and hatchlings, the sheer number ensures that plenty survive. The sight of so many massive turtles covering a riverbank is one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles of the Amazon. When the hatchlings emerge, they scramble together into the water in a tiny turtle stampede, relying on numbers for survival.

Another thing that makes this turtle unique is its dietary shift as it grows. Hatchlings and juveniles are mostly carnivorous, feeding on insects, small fish, and crustaceans, while adults are largely herbivorous, grazing on aquatic plants, seeds, and fruits that fall into the water. This switch helps balance river ecosystems, as the turtles both control plant growth and spread seeds, acting as underwater gardeners of the Amazon. Their role as seed dispersers is crucial, since many tree species rely on them to carry seeds downstream.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Bolivia

1996

Brazil

1996

Colombia

1996

Ecuador

1996

Guyana

1996

Peru

1996

Trinidad & Tobago

1996

Venezuela

1996