Reptile · GBIF taxon 2443607
Philippine Forest Turtle
Siebenrockiella leytensisAlso known as Philippine Pond Turtle, Palawan Turtle, Leyte Pond Turtle, Bakoko
Philippine forest turtles navigate the shaded lowland streams and palm swamps of northern Palawan, hiding under submerged logs and riverbank overhangs during the day. Nocturnal foragers by nature, they emerge after dusk to feed on aquatic plants, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates along shallow creek beds. Once thought extinct for nearly eight decades, wild populations remain extraordinarily vulnerable to habitat destruction and targeted illegal collection.
FreshwaterNocturnal
Licensed referencePierre Fidenci / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aquatic Insects
- Freshwater Crustaceans
- Fallen Fruits
Predators
- Monitor Lizards
- Feral Dogs
- Humans
ThreatsIllegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, poaching
HabitatsLowland forest streams, palm swamps, small rivers
Life span20–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGeoemydidae
- SpeciesSiebenrockiella leytensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a sharp defensive bite if handled; observe from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its smooth dark brown to black carapace and pale yellow stripe behind each eye.
- Support conservation
- Keep a respectful distance, never handle wild individuals, and conceal precise location data when uploading sightings.
Responsible observation
- Stream Watching: Scan clear, slow-flowing forest streams after sunset using a dim red light to spot active individuals.
- Locational Privacy: Omit exact geographic coordinates when sharing observations to protect wild populations from poachers.
- Habitat Respect: Avoid shifting submerged logs or disturbing riverbank vegetation where turtles shelter during daylight.
Co-habitant Co-habitant Predator Close Relative
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