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Here we have a Malaysian giant turtle. Its scientific name is orlitia borneensis. They
are found in large bodies of fresh water such as lakes and rivers. They are highly aquatic
species, and they are known from only Malasia, Sumatra, and Borneo. You can see that this
is a fairly large turtle, its carapace which is its top shell, can reach about thirty-one
inches or two and a half feet in length. The majority of these animals are very dark colored,
they have a very narrow carapace, and it's very oval. The head is relatively large and
broad with a slightly projecting snout. Like many turtles, the males often have longer,
thicker tails than the females do. It takes about ten to twenty years for this species
to become sexually mature, and the females will nest on river banks or river islands.
These turtles have very elongated eggs and the shells are hard but very brittle. The
speed of development and the sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature that they're
incubated at. This species of turtle is an omnivore, eating both plant and animal matter.
This species is actually endangered, it's endangered for a variety of reasons. First,
its meat is considered a delicacy in China. The shell of this turtle is actually believed
to heal general health ailments, such as cancer, and it's even believed to have *** rejuvenation
properties. This turtle is often smuggled in very large numbers into meat markets. They
are kept in crates, stacked on top of one another without food and water. It often leaves
this turtle becoming dehydrated and parasitized. They are actually caught by hooks and lines
that get caught in their esophagus, and their mouths. There are laws against trafficking
these turtles in general, especially in Indonesia, but it still happens and it's still a very
common occurrence.