[5][6][7] As juvenile spiny turtles become adults, the black striped and yellow underside of their shell fades in color.

[7] The spiny turtle buries itself in leaf litter to camouflage during the day and only emerges at night, foraging for food.

[11] Similarly, captive juvenile spiny turtles consume fruit salads multiple times a week, particularly those containing tomatoes.

[4] Many attempts at reproduction in captivity have proved unsuccessful due to the eggs’ shells being thick and prone to bursting if the substrate is too damp.

[4][15] Labeled as “vulnerable” by the IUCN in 1996, the spiny turtle became endangered in 2000 when the supply of the species declined by a half in the Chinese food market.

[4] It is suggested that the main threat to the spiny turtle has been the destruction of natural forests to create oil palm plantations, common in southern Myanmar.

[11] The spiny turtle’s participation in the international pet trade and its use in traditional Chinese medicine has also led to its decline.