Arrau Giant South American River Turtle

Podocnemis expansa

Range

• Central South America

Habitat

• Large rivers and their tributaries

Diet

• Plants

These turtles help clean each other’s shells by taking turns pulling off algae and debris.

One of the largest species of freshwater turtle, the females can weigh up to 100 pounds. Like sea turtles, they return to lay eggs on the same sandbank every year. The females can lay over 100 eggs at a time in their nests.