Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm planning on getting a reeves turtle but I have found that there are 2 species. The Reeves turtle, and the Big Head reeves turtle. I can't find any information on the difference between these two. Can someone tell me?

I think the only difference is that the "so called big headed reeves" have more white. I am not saying that anyone is misrepresenting the animals but I don't think that they are true megalocephla. Please don't be angry if you are selling them this is just my opinion .I have a friend at the Philadelphia Zoo that has two females that he got in 1970! They have huge heads and don't look like any other that I have ever seen.
Tom

The biggest physical difference is that the big-headed reeves has a wide, broad head. There are also other differences as well.

Joel

No one has yet proven one way or another if these animals are truely separate species or even subspecies. I have at least 4 distict "types" of reeve's turtles in my collection. I have 3 or 4 "true" megalocephala adults...and yes they have very enlarged heads compared to other reevsei. These big-headed reeve's are virtually non-existent in collections (even though many people sell animals that they call megalocephala). In fact, most of those animals are simply normal reeve's turtles. The male megalocephala are completely jet black in color. I have several years of offspring from the different types of reeve's and the young of the megalocephala do start developing the enlarged head after 3 or 4 years.

To make things more confusing there are also some reevesii x nigricans hatchlings floating around that could be sold as megalo's. My guess is that the male megalos are not born jet black but obtain that coloration as they age (similar to other species that show age-melanism). Anyone have any comments on that? Wouldn't young males appear colored like the females? I've seen all sorts of reeves with huge heads. Check out this Japanese reeves turtle:

Link

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Michael
http://turtletracker.com

The "megas" are much darker than normal reeve's as hatchlings and juvies. By 3 or 4 years old they are nearly all black. Plastrons are completely black as hatchlings compared to the yellow seams on normal reeve's.

I've seen those reevsei X nigricans too. I also have mutica X reevei, caspica X reevsei, and some others in my collection that I don't know what the hell they are.

Hi Batagur,
I'd like to see some pictures of your animals. Do you have any pics of the 3-4 inch black megalo's? Also, I'd love to see your hybrids.
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Michael
http://turtletracker.com