Dahl's Toad-headed Turtle (Family Chelidae) is a small to medium-sized freshwater turtle (carapace length to 297 mm) endemic to small streams and pools with a restricted range within the Tropical Dry Forest Biome of northern Colombia.It is omnivorous, feeding mainly on snails, crustaceans, and aquatic insects.Mesoclemmys dahli spends considerable time on land, particularly during the dry season when it may estivate.Home ranges may be as large as 31 ha during a year cycle and it may use or cross streams, riparian vegetation and contiguous areas, pastures, and lentic water bodies in the middle of open areas.Very little is known about its reproductive ecology in the wild, but nesting may occur from October to March, coupled with dry climatic conditions in the region.Although it may be abundant at some locations within the core of its range (Córdoba), only a few (less than 5) populations are known, and abundance (16-170 turtles/ha) in the eastern populations (Cesar) is generally lower than reported for other South American chelids.The species is threatened because of the high degree of transformation of its habitat for human activities such as fires, urban expansion, agriculture, and cattle.There are no populations known that inhabit wellpreserved dry forests, and there is no known presence of the species in any formally protected area.Habitat restoration and establishment of a protected area for the species are measures required for its long-term persistence.distribution.-Colombia.Restricted to northern Colombia, north of the Andes in the departments of Córdoba, Sucre, Atlántico, Bolívar, Magdalena, and Cesar.