By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE
CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE
互联网新闻信息许可证10120180008
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
Mexico's Guadalajara Zoo has achieved a small wonder: it successfully hatched a Vallarta mud turtle.
A worker holds a Vallarta mud turtle at the Guadalajara Zoo in Jalisco state, Mexico, August 25, 2025. /VCG
The Vallarta mud turtle, recently discovered, is the smallest freshwater turtle species in the world, with adults reaching a maximum shell length of just 10.2 centimeters.
A Vallarta mud turtle is seen next to a 5-peso Mexican coin for size comparison at the Guadalajara Zoo in Jalisco state, Mexico, August 25, 2025. /VCG
Very little information exists about this species, underscoring how rare and understudied it remains.
(Cover: A Vallarta mud turtle at the Guadalajara Zoo in Jalisco state, Mexico, August 25, 2025. /VCG)