Podocnemis lewyana Duméril 1852

The Magdalena River Turtle, Podocnemis lewyana (family Podocnemididae), is a medium- to large-sized, sexually dimorphic endemic species of Colombia found in the Sinú and Magdalena drainages (including the lower Cauca, San Jorge, and Nechí tributaries). Females reach a maximum straight-line carapace length (SCL) of 50.0 cm, and males reach a maximum SCL of 42.4 cm. Females take 5–7 years to reach sexual maturity at approximately 27–30 cm SCL, while males appear to mature reproductively at around 3–4 years old, with an SCL of approximately 19–20 cm. The species has a relatively long generation time (10–12 years), implying that depleted populations are only slowly replaced and have a low capacity for recovery after a decline. Nesting occurs twice a year on exposed sandbars and beaches in December–February and July–August, with clutch size typically ranging from 12–22 eggs, with larger females laying up to 32 eggs. Eggs hatch after approximately 61 days (range = 52–89), with hatchlings averaging 4.2–4.6 cm SCL. Historically, eggs and meat of P. lewyana have been used by local communities as a source of protein. However, continued unsustainable capture of adults, excessive egg collection, and illegal trade have resulted in declines in distribution and population size across its range. In the Magdalena River basin, there are no government-designated protected areas that effectively control or mitigate these threats, thereby increasing the species’ vulnerability. Genomic-scale genetic analysis has revealed marked population structure, with significant genetic differentiation between populations, especially between the Sinú and Magdalena drainages, and within the Magdalena drainage due to isolation-by-distance, yielding three distinct management units for the species. Podocnemis lewyana is an obligately aquatic, herbivorous species that consumes a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial plant species; therefore, it probably plays a functionally important role as a seed disperser and germination facilitator, as well as being an important component of the nutrient cycling in its ecosystems. 

Colombia. Restricted to the Sinú, San Jorge, Cauca, and Magdalena river drainages in northwestern Colombia. It is the only Podocnemididae species found northwest of the Andes Mountains, and occurs in 13 departments of Colombia: Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cesar, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Huila, Magdalena, Santander, Sucre, and Tolima.

Podocnemis lewyana Duméril 1852.

None recognized.