The total length of the carapace reaches 17.5 cm. Sexual dimorphism is observed: males are larger than females. The head is of moderate size. There are 3-4 antennae on the chin. There is a kind of hook on the upper jaw. The carapace is quite high and elongated with a keel running in the middle. Plastron is small. The mobile ligament is not sufficiently developed, so the turtle cannot completely “close”. The males have a concave plastron and a large tail.
Head and neck are brown with small yellow spots. The upper part of the head is darker than the lower. The carapace is dark brown or black. The ends of the marginal flaps are yellow with dark stripes. The plastron and jumper are yellow or brown with dark spots. The limbs are brown or gray on top and cream colored below. The tail is completely brown or gray.
It lives in rivers, swamps, streams in the highlands and lowlands. It occurs at an altitude of 800 m above sea level . Active during the day. It feeds on fish caviar , insects , crustaceans , amphibians .
Puberty in males occurs at the age of 7-10 years, in females - at 8-9 years. The female lays up to 4-5 eggs.
Endemic of Mexico. Lives in the basin of the Kolotepek and Tonameka rivers on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca [1] .
