Spiny Hill Turtle Natural History
Size
Adults reach a shell length of up to around 9 inches (23 cm).
Habitat and Distribution
This species is found in lowland hill rainforests particularly near streams and ponds. It occurs in the countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand.
Age
This species likely lives for around 50 years or more.
Diet
The majority of their diet is vegetarian including vegetable matter, leaves, grasses and fruits. However, they do sometimes also supplement their diet with animal matter.
Groups and Breeding
These turtles lay relatively large eggs near rivers in shallow nests. Due to the size of these eggs they usually only lay one or two eggs at a time, which hatch after 110 to 145 days. Females may produce up to 3 clutches of eggs per year.
Threats
This species is Endangered in the wild. Part of the reason for this is the rapid deforestation of its natural habitat, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, but also that it is very commonly caught and sold at markets for food.
Interesting Facts
Due to the sharp points which are made up by the scales along the edge of its shell, this species is also sometimes called the cog wheel turtle.
The Spiny Hill Turtle During Your Day Out in Kent
The two Spiny Hill Turtles at Wingham Wildlife Park live in the new Reptile House. This is also home to a number of popular species of crocodilians, snakes, turtles, tortoises, amphibians and lizards.
The more you know…
Want to know more about this animal? Check out our keeper blogs about them here.