Dermatemys mawii, the Hickatee, a Central American river turtle is an aquatic turtle that spends its entire life in or on the water, even sleeping, and yet staying afloat. This fairly large tortoise species tops out at 25 inches in shell length and can weigh up to 44 pounds, 50 pounds if the weight of the shell or tortoise shell is included. Males can be distinguished from females by yellow markings on both sides of their heads. They also have a longer and thicker tail.

The female is somewhat smaller, with a shorter tail and a gray head without the male’s matching gold emblem and spotted insignia. The carapace, brown or olive green, is slightly curved; the ventral layer is cream-colored.

The female Hickatee only comes out of the water when she has to lay eggs, where up to sixteen eggs are deposited under the camouflage of decaying vegetation. This ‘mother’ never looks back, she never checks the eggs she has just plain ugly. The eggs she has just laid hatch on their own.

The coastal lowlands of Belize are the normal home environment for the Hickatee along with the waterways of southern Mexico and northern Guatemala. Clear, deep water is best, and the Hickatee consider Belize’s many lagoons to be prime residential areas.

When just hatched, a Hickatee will start life as meat eaters, however as they become adults they switch to a vegetarian diet. The ancient Mayans prized turtle meat for both food and religious ceremonies. Turtle meat is still a much appreciated delicacy today. Sea turtle eggs are collected in Belize for food.

The Hickatee is a herbivore and its meat is eagerly sought after by carnivorous man. Hickatee tortoise meat is a traditional Easter food in Belize that has helped put this tortoise on the critically endangered species list. In addition, the Hickatee is easy to catch, floating lazily on the surface of the water unaware that an accurate paddle will knock them unconscious or simply pick them up from a river bed in the dry season.

Despite its endangered status, the Hickatee only has very limited protection in Belize with a one-month closed season and no trade in Hickatee meat, a maximum of 3 per person and only five per vehicle are allowed to be taken. .

The Hickatee turtle is one of the most exploited turtles in the world, since it has been intensively captured, mainly for its meat, but also for its eggs, shell and even the hatchlings are sold for food. This tortoise has been nearly eliminated from much of its former range in southern Mexico.