Geoffroy's Side-necked Terrapin/Turtle Phrynops geoffroanus

Geoffroy's Side-necked Turtle, also called Geoffroy's Toadhead Turtle, is a large terrapin native to lakes and slow-moving rivers of the northern half of South America.

Sidenecks withdraw their head and long neck sideways into the shell rather than straight. The Sidenecks have two small, sensitive white barbels under their chin.

It has the widest distribution of any South American freshwater turtle/terrapin, even able to inhabit water highly polluted by sewage and chemicals.

However it suffers damage from boat propellers and is hunted for food. (Central image above shows Geoffroy's turtles with shed skin of anaconda.)