Mekong Snail-eating Turtle

Mekong Snail-eating Turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga) is a reptile recorded for Vietnam in the project inventory. Its supporting occurrence note is “Expert range list”. The accepted scientific name is retained because regional taxonomy and species boundaries can change, while similar-looking taxa may require detailed morphology or genetic evidence for reliable separation. This profile therefore distinguishes the recorded identity and occurrence from broader biological context instead of inventing unsupported locality, size, diet or breeding details (project species data; Reptile Database taxonomy).

Malayemys snail-eating turtles are freshwater specialists of shallow ponds, canals, marshes and flooded rice landscapes. Strong jaws and broad crushing surfaces help them feed on aquatic snails, although other small animals and plant matter may also be taken. They bask and move overland when wet habitats change. These are genus-level notes rather than Vietnamese field observations of this record, so exact size, habitat, diet and clutch values are omitted (general Malayemys account; Reptile Database).