Amboina box turtle

Last updated

Amboina box turtle
Cuora Amboinensis male2.jpg
Adult C. a. amboinensis from Sulawesi
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Cuora
Species:
C. amboinensis
Binomial name
Cuora amboinensis
Daudin, 1802
Synonyms [3]
Cuora amboinensis amboinensis
  • Testudo amboinensisDaudin, 1801
  • Testudo melanocephalaDaudin, 1801
  • Emys amboinensisSchweigger, 1812
  • Emys melanocephalaSchweigger, 1812
  • Terrapene amboinensisMerrem, 1820
  • Kinosternon amboinenseBell, 1825 ( ex errore )
  • Cistuda amboinensisGray, 1830
  • Clemmys (Clemmys) melanocephalaFitzinger, 1835
  • Cuora amboinensisGray, 1856
  • Cistudo amboinensisBoulenger, 1889
  • Cyclemys amboinensisBoulenger, 1889
  • Cuora ambionensisGoldsmith, Proctor, Cole & Dadd, 1969 (ex errore)
  • Cuora amboiensisNutaphand, 1979 (ex errore)
  • Cuora amboinensis amboinensisRummler & Fritz, 1991
Cuora amboinensis couro
  • Emys couroSchweigger, 1812
  • Terrapene bicolorBell, 1825
  • Terrapene couroFitzinger, 1826
  • Emys cuoroMertens & Wermuth, 1955 (ex errore)
  • Cuora amboinensis couroRummler & Fritz, 1991
  • Cuora amboinensis cuoroDas, 1995
Cuora amboinensis kamaroma
  • Terrapene bicolorBell, 1825
  • Cuora amboinensis kamaromaRummler & Fritz, 1991
  • Cuora amboinensis kanzaromaArtner, 2003 (ex errore)
Cuora amboinensis lineata
  • Cuora amboinensis lineataMcCord & Philippen, 1998

The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) is a species of Asian box turtle widely distributed across Southeast Asia. It is native to the Asian mainland from northeast India, through Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand, across Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. It is also found on the archipelagos of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Contents

The type locality is "Amboine" (or "Amboina") Island, today Ambon Island in Indonesia.

Description

These turtles have blackish-brown to olive-brown shells that are not as ornate as many other box turtles. All have a blackish olive head with three yellow stripes on the side. [4] They are relatively small turtles, ranging in length between 200-250mm depending on subspecies and sex. Females are slightly larger than males. [5] The male can be identified by the slightly concave shape to its plastron. There is no specific pattern to what the underbellies may look like, for either sex. Life expectancy is 25-30 years. The only true way of telling age is to guess by the texture of the shell, as growth rings form irregularly. [6]

Distribution and habitat

The Amboina box turtle is widely distributed across Southeast Asia. Its range extends on the Asian mainland from northeast India, through Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand, across Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. It is also found on the archipelagos of Indonesia and the Philippines. The Amboina prefers lowland freshwater habitats from sea level up to about 500 meters and can be found in both natural and human-modified landscapes. It prefers still or slow-moving waters with a soft bottom including ponds, creeks, marshes, rice paddies, irrigation canals and drainage ditches. They are semi-aquatic and tend to spend more time on land at night; the young are more aquatic than adults. Amboina turtles do not migrate but individuals may wander substantial distances during their lifetime. [5]

Ecology and behavior

The Amboina is omnivorous but tends toward a more vegetarian diet. On land it eats plants, fruits, seeds, fungi and worms; in the water it consumes plants, insects and mollusks. The species has been observed to contribute to seed dispersal for fig trees and other tropical plants. [5] [6]

Mating takes place between November and April after a brief courtship ritual. Typically, the female will lay three small clutches of two eggs each year and incubation may take anywhere from 70 to 100 days. Eggs are elongate, brittle and hard-shelled. The variability in clutch size, egg size and egg-laying season relate to geographic variability and climate. [5]

Taxonomy

There are four subspecies that are primarily differentiated by differences in the color and shape of the carapace: [7]

Has a quite flat shell with flared marginal scutes. The plastron has bigger black spots, and it possesses a bigger head; well adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. For individuals suspected to be of this subspecies: Ratio of carapace length / height: 3.08. Average ratio dimensions of plastron spots: 1.21 (almost circular)
Moderately domed carapace, some individuals possess flared marginal scutes. The plastron shows black markings on every plastral scute. Darker in coloration, more oval black spots on the plastron.
High domed carapace and smaller, more elongated plastron with less black spots than the other subspecies. It has a smaller and shorter tail compared to the other subspecies and does not have any flares in the marginal scutes. Average ratio of carapace length / height: 2.82. Average ratio dimensions of plastron spots: 2.14 (small and elongated)
Resembles Cuora amboinensis kamaroma, but in the carapace there is a bright colored mid-dorsal line, and sometimes a bright colored lateral line. The plastral scutes possess large black spots similar to Cuora amboinensis couro.

Several distinct populations are believed to represent up to four more subspecies, or at least striking varieties. [9]

C. a. kamaroma has hybridized in captivity with the Vietnamese pond turtle – a species nearly extinct in the wild – and with males of the Chinese pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii). [10] Other hybrids are known, like C. amboinensis × Cuora trifasciata . [9]

Conservation status

Once common across much of its range, the Amboina box turtle has undergone a rapid population decline in many areas. In 2020 it was classified as Endangered by the IUCN. The primary threat is capture for local consumption, export to China for food and traditional medicine, and export for the pet trade in the United States and Europe. [5] Although it is adaptable to human-modified landscapes, habitat destruction is still considered a threat in some areas.

Notes

  1. Cota, M.; Hoang, H.; Horne, B.D.; Kusrini, M.D.; McCormack, T.; Platt, K.; Schoppe, S.; Shepherd, C. (2020). "Cuora amboinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T5958A3078812. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5958A3078812.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 214–215. doi: 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 . S2CID   87809001.
  4. Slepetski, Lisa. "Cuora amboinensisAmboina Box Turtle; Southeast Asian Box Turtle". Animal Diversity Web (ADW). Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Shoppe & Das 2011.
  6. 1 2 Slepetski 2000.
  7. Filella (1997); measurements taken at the LCRC 2006-SEP-20.
  8. 1 2 3 Cuora amboinensis, The Reptile Database
  9. 1 2 Vetter & Van Dijk (2006)
  10. Fritz & Mendau (2002), Galgon & Fritz (2002), Buskirk et al. (2005)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine forest turtle</span> Species of turtle

Siebenrockiella leytensis is a species of freshwater turtle endemic to the Philippines. It is classified as critically endangered. It is known as the Philippine forest turtle, the Philippine pond turtle, the Palawan turtle, or the Leyte pond turtle. Despite the latter common name, it does not occur in the island of Leyte but is instead native to the Palawan island group. It is locally known as bakoko in Cuyonon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keeled box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The keeled box turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian leaf turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Asian leaf turtle is a species of turtle found in Southeast Asia. They are quite common in the pet trade; their carapaces resemble that of a Cuora amboinensis hybrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black pond turtle</span> Species of turtle

The black pond turtle, also known commonly as the spotted pond turtle and the Indian spotted turtle, is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species, which is endemic to South Asia, belongs to the monotypic genus Geoclemys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown roofed turtle</span> Species of turtle

The brown roofed turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to South Asia. Two subspecies are recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden coin turtle</span> Species of turtle

The golden coin turtle, also known commonly as the Chinese three-banded box turtle and the Chinese three-striped box turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is native to southern China. There are two recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian box turtle</span> Genus of turtles

Asian box turtles are turtles of the genus Cuora in the family Geoemydidae. About 12 extant species are recognized. The keeled box turtle is often included in this genus, or separated in the monotypic genus Pyxidea. Genus Cuora is distributed from China to Indonesia and the Philippines, throughout mainland Southeast Asia, and into northern India and Bhutan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indochinese box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Indochinese box turtle, Vietnamese box turtle, or flowerback box turtle is a species of Asian box turtles from China, northern and central Vietnam, Laos, and possibly northeastern Cambodia. It is found in high altitude woodland where it tends to hide in the undergrowth. There is considerable confusion as to the taxonomy of this species with several subspecies being recognised by some authorities. and not by others. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Chinese box turtle, also known as the yellow-margined box turtle, or golden-headed turtle, is a species of Asian box turtle. Taxonomically, it is called Cuora flavomarginata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roti Island snake-necked turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle, also commonly known as McCord's snakeneck turtle, is a critically endangered turtle species. It is named after Rote Island in Indonesia where it was first discovered. Some individuals were later discovered in East Timor, and are considered a distinct subspecies.

<i>Pelusios</i> Genus of turtles

Pelusios is a genus of African side-necked turtles. With 17 described species, it is one of the most diverse genera of the turtle order (Testudines).

The Caspian turtle, also known as the striped-neck terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (=Bataguridae). It is found in west Asia, in Iran and central Turkey, northward to the Republic of Georgia and eastward to southwestern Turkmenistan, and in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-headed pantanal swamp turtle</span> Species of turtle

The big-headed pantanal swamp turtle or pantanal swamp turtle is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae found in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese pond turtle</span> Species of turtle

Mauremys reevesii, commonly known as the Chinese pond turtle, the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle, or Reeves' turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae, a family which was formerly called Bataguridae. The species is native to East Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black marsh turtle</span> Species of turtle

Siebenrockiella crassicollis is a freshwater turtle endemic to Southeast Asia. It is one of two species classified under the genus Siebenrockiella in the family Geoemydidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourret's box turtle</span> Species of turtle

Bourret's box turtle, also known commonly as the central Vietnamese flowerback box turtle and the Indochinese box turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vietnamese three-striped box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Vietnamese three-striped box turtle or green rice turtle is a species of the Southeast Asian genus Cuora. It is distributed from the extreme southern part of the Chinese Guangxi province southwards to central Vietnam and central Laos. This species reaches up to 30 cm straight carapace length and is thus the largest Cuora species. Due to demand of traditional Chinese medicine, this species is nearly extinct in the wild, but is readily bred on Chinese turtle farms. Extremely high prices are paid for this species in China. It can be distinguished from Cuora trifasciata by its larger size and generally more oval or rounder shell, which is usually also flatter, a white, pink, or orange chin, and head coloration with an orange-brownish-olive dorsal head pattern and less black pigment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turtle shell</span> Shield for the ventral and dorsal parts of turtles

The turtle shell is a shield for the ventral and dorsal parts of turtles, completely enclosing all the vital organs of the turtle and in some cases even the head. It is constructed of modified bony elements such as the ribs, parts of the pelvis and other bones found in most reptiles. The bone of the shell consists of both skeletal and dermal bone, showing that the complete enclosure of the shell likely evolved by including dermal armor into the rib cage.

<i>Cyclemys</i> Genus of turtles

Cyclemys is a genus of freshwater turtles, commonly referred to as Asian leaf turtles, from the family Geoemydidae. The genus occurs throughout Southeast and South Asia, and currently contains seven species.

<i>Chelodina canni</i> Species of turtle

Chelodina canni, also known commonly as Cann's snake-necked turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Australia, where it is found in the northern and northeastern parts of the continent. It has a narrow zone of hybridization with its related species the eastern snake-necked turtle, C. longicollis. For many years C. canni was assumed to be the same species as C. novaeguineae from New Guinea. However, in 2002 it was shown that these two species differ both morphologically and genetically, and therefore C. canni was separated and described as a unique species.

References

Further reading