redfoots vs cherry head redfoots

[Scott_M]

Are these two different species, or just different locales? They say, cherry heads dont attain the large sizes of red foots, but is this and the color the only difference between the two?

Thanks

[egyptiandan64]

Right now they are different locales Scott, but will probably be different subspecies in the future.

There are some reliable differences between a few different populations. The northern population is larger, 30 to 40cm, with an almost clear plastron, usually with a diamond shaped dark spot in the center of the plastron. As you go more south the plastrons start to darken. The next population is the Amazon basin one. They are larger than the northern population, 35 to 45cm. The plastron has much more dark colour, following the seams and is slightly mottled. They still have the typical head and leg colouring of the northern population. The Cherry heads are next from southern Brazil. They are small, 25 to 30cm and more extensive black on the plastron, usually with more mottling. Head and legs are usually some shade of red, from pink to cherry red. The carapace is sometimes mottled as well, which doesn't happen in the other populations. The Chacoans are last from Boliva, Paraguay and Argentina. They are huge, 45 to 61cm. Their plastrons are almost all back with no mottling. They have the typical redfoot leg and head colors.

Danny

[Scott_M]

thanks Dan!