(Podocnemis unifilis)Notes: This is a vulnerable freshwater turtle. The three you see here were photographed in an animal preserve during a July 2015 trip.Distribution: Native to the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon river systems, such as the Napo and Aguarico riversCamera:Location: Ecuador Conservation in EcuadorThreats: Populations face severe pressure from illegal adult turtle
(Crocodylus acutus) A species of crocodilian found in the Neotropics. It is the most widespread of the four extant species of crocodiles from the Americas, with populations present from South Florida, the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the coasts of Mexico to as far south as Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and
Long-nosed Wood-Turtle (Rhinoclemmys nasuta) Location: Ecuador Nature Preserve near Quinto. Rare in Ecuador, but common in some areas of Colombia. The Long-nosed Wood-Turtle is a primarily aquatic turtle that inhabits bodies of water in evergreen lowland forests. Long-nosed Wood-Turtles are the most aquatic of the Rhinoclemmys genus, spending almost the entirety of
Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) is a very large species of tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis (which also contains three smaller species from mainland South America). It is the largest living species of tortoise, and can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). They are
“You’re afraid of surrender because you don’t want to lose control. But you never had control; all you had was anxiety.”
Elizabeth Gilbert
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