Afro-American River Turtles: Podocnemididae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Conservation Status, South American River Turtle (podocnemis Expansa): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, AFRO-AMERICAN RIVER TURTLES AND PE

Afro-American river turtles are found in Madagascar and northern South America.

Many of these freshwater turtles live on riverbanks and in large lakes, but some also live in streams and swamps, wetlands partly covered with water. Sometimes they move into flooded forests. Their range, or the area in which they live and feed, includes Madagascar, which lies off the eastern coast of southern Africa, and northern South America.

Afro-American river turtles are mainly plant eaters; they are especially fond of fruits that drop off the trees on the shore and fall into the water. They also eat stems, leaves, and grasses. They dine on meat once in a while, and when they do, they eat insects, fishes, or other freshwater animals.

People hunt these turtles for their meat and their eggs.