At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Burmese roofed turtle is a large river turtle that was brought back from the very edge of extinction by captive breeding. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Males develop bright colours in the breeding season.
Range & habitat
Rivers of Myanmar.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past egg collection and hunting
- Habitat change
- A tiny wild population
Why it matters
A river turtle rescued from near-total loss through breeding programmes, the Burmese roofed turtle is a flagship for Myanmar's river conservation.
Sources
Sources for Burmese Roofed Turtle
- IUCN Red List — look up Burmese Roofed Turtle (authoritative status)
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz
Frequently Asked Questions
How close did the Burmese roofed turtle come to extinction?
It was nearly lost, with only a handful of wild animals known, before captive breeding dramatically increased numbers in protected facilities.
Why is it Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite past egg collection and hunting, habitat change, and a tiny wild population, even as captive breeding helps. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: