Pierre Fidenci*1 and Catalina López-Ospina2

Colombia includes 25 tortoise and turtle species. The Dahl ’s toad-headed turtle is classified as a critically endangered species by the IUCN (2006) and is probably the most endangered turtle in Colombia. We conducted surveys for B. dahli in the departments of Sucre, and Magdalena during November and December 2005 using mostly fishing net techniques. Historically, B. dahli was encountered for the first time in Pajuela Creek in the late 50s near the vicinity of Sincelejo, in the department of Sucre. However, this population has been extirpated due to urbanization. Since then, few recent new locations have been discovered more than 40 km from Sincelejo. B. dahli is also known in El Bajo Sinú, department of Cordoba, where breeding populations exit. Other possible locations include the departments of Atlántico, Bolívar, César, and Magdalena. B. dahli is nocturnal and carnivore. It occupies ponds and creeks, and sometimes can be found several hundred meters away from aquatic habitats. Males have a red coloration in their legs during breeding activities. Hatchlings have yellow legs and plastron with dark undefined lines. The range of B. dahli is probably more widespread than previously believed. Trachemys scripta and Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare can be found in the same aquatic habitat as B. dahli. This species has likely beneficiated from the creation of many stock ponds for cattle ranching in the departments of Sucre and Córdoba. B. dahli is occasionally captured for food; however, locals prefer other turtle species such as Trachemys sp. More research is needed on B. dahli, in particular, to determine its range, number of viable populations, and its status in Colombia.
International conservation/field research Oral

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