Anny Peralta-García
Bradford D. Hollingsworth
Patricia Galina-Tessaro
Robert D. Fisher
Jeff A. Alvarez
R. A. Lara-Resendiz
Jorge H. Valdez-Villavicencio
2025
<p><span>The Southwestern Pond Turtle (</span><i>Actinemys pallida</i><span>), the only native freshwater turtle in Baja California, is experiencing alarming population declines, echoing global patterns observed in freshwater turtles. We conducted comprehensive field surveys across the major drainages of northwestern Baja California to delineate the species' current distribution, identify critical threats to its persistence, and provide guidance for conservation actions. We documented the continued presence of </span><i>A. pallida</i><span> at 27 sites across 10 watersheds, ranging from sea level to 1,525 m in elevation. These include nine historically known sites and 18 newly recorded localities. The most pervasive threats we identified were habitat degradation, the proliferation of invasive aquatic species, and unsustainable water extraction. Despite these pressures, our findings confirm that </span><i>A. pallida</i><span> still occupies much of its historical range. However, urgent ecological research is needed to inform evidence-based strategies that ensure the long-term viability of this imperiled species.</span></p>
application/pdf
10.3160/0038-3872-124.2.67
en
Southern California Academy of Sciences
The Southwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys pallida) in Baja California, Mexico: New localities and persistent threats
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