[6] In at least one other species of turtle, it appears that megacephaly may not be genetically linked, instead developing in individuals as a response to a heavily durophagous diet.

Introduced populations of M. reevesii may serve as a threat to the native turtles of these regions due to its propensity for hybridization.

[2][8][9][10] During surveys in East Timor (Timor-Leste), a small but well-established population of M. reevesii was found living in marshes near the city of Dili.

[11] East Timor is home to the Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi), more specifically the subspecies C. m. timorensis (sometimes considered a species of its own).

M. reevesii from the introduced population are sometimes captured to be sold to people of Chinese origin and this may cause problems if extended to the native turtles.

[15][16] This hybridization may pose a threat to the populations of native M. mutica and Chinese stripe-necked turtle (M. sinensis) in Taiwan, and the endemic M. japonica in Japan.

The total weight of the annual product was 320 tons, with the estimated value of over US$6 million, which makes the market value of a Chinese pond turtle equal to around $12—about twice as much that of the most common farmed species, Pelodiscus sinensis.

Taking into account the registered farms that did not respond to the survey, as well as the unregistered producers, the total amounts must be considerably higher.