<p><b>Podocnemis lewyana</b>, commonly known as the red-bellied slider, is a tropical freshwater turtle native to the Amazon Basin, recognized for its striking reddish plastron and broad, oval-shaped carapace. These herbivorous turtles play a vital role in their ecosystem by maintaining aquatic vegetation and serve as a food source for various predators, while their conservation is crucial due to vulnerabilities from habitat loss and pollution.</p>