Sunday species spotlight: the Spiny Turtle! The Spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa) is native to Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore and can also be found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They are commonly called ‘Spiny turtles’ because of the shape of their marginal scutes, which are quite sharp when the turtles are young. These spines are an excellent example of an evolutionary trait developed to discourage predators from eating the turtle during the first few years of their life. Desp