Asian box turtle

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Asian box turtle
Cuora amboinensis.jpg
Amboina box turtle, Cuora amboinensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Geoemydidae
Subfamily: Geoemydinae
Genus: Cuora
Gray, 1856
Species

About 12

Synonyms
  • Cistoclemmys
  • Pyxiclemmys

Asian box turtles are turtles of the genus Cuora in the family Geoemydidae. About 12 extant species are recognized. [1] The keeled box turtle (Pyxidea mouhotii syn. Cuora mouhotii) 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. [1]

Contents

Description

Cuora species are characterized by a low- (e.g. Cuora pani ) to high- (e.g. Cuora picturata ) domed shell, which usually has three keels on the carapace. They are reddish, yellowish, brown, grey, and/or black in color. Some species have bright yellow, black, orange, or white stripes down the length of their keels. Their body color is highly variable, but usually very intense. Most species show stripes of variable color down either side of their heads, which usually meet at the nose.

Background

Asian box turtles are the most heavily trafficked turtles in the world. They are captured and sold as food to China, and to the United States as pets. Nancy Karraker, a University of Rhode Island associate professor, has said "Trafficking in turtles is a major issue in Southeast Asia, and it's important that we understand the key ecological roles that species like this box turtle play before it's too late," [2]

Different conservation organizations are taking action to prevent or slow down the extinction of these species, but in the past, most of the efforts failed due to lack of biological research regarding the history or genetic diversity of these species. [3]

Behavior

Asian box turtles are terrestrial, semiaquatic, or mainly aquatic, most spending much of their time on the edge of shallow swamps, streams, or ponds that are dense with vegetation. Most are omnivorous, but carnivores do occur.

Head portrait of the different Cuora species, subspecies and varieties (from left to right/top to bottom):
Cuora amboinensis amboinensis (Sulawesi), Cuora amboinensis kamaroma (Thailand), Cuora amboinensis ssp. (unknown), Cuora amboinensis ssp. (Philippines); Cuora trifasciata (Guangdong, China), Cuora aurocapitata (Anhui, China), Cuora pani pani (Shaanxi, China), Cuora yunnanensis (Yunnan, China); Cuora cyclornata cyclornata (Annam, central Vietnam), Cuora cyclornata meieri (north Vietnam), Cuora mccordi (Guangxi, China), Cuora zhoui (unknown); Cuora flavomarginata sinensis (Sichuan, China), Cuora flavomarginata evelynae (Ryukyu Islands, Japan), Cuora flavomarginata flavomarginata (Taiwan), Cuora picturata (southern Annam, south Vietnam); Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons (north Vietnam), Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons (Hainan, China); Cuora bourreti (Annam, central Vietnam), Cuora bourreti (Laos); Cuora cyclornata cyclornata x Cuora amboinensis kamaroma hybrid, Cuora cyclornata x Pyxidea mouhotii, Cuora trifasciata x Pyxidea mouhotii, Cuora galbinifrons x Pyxidea mouhotii = "Cuora serrata" Cuora species head collage.jpg
Head portrait of the different Cuora species, subspecies and varieties (from left to right/top to bottom):
Cuora amboinensis amboinensis (Sulawesi), Cuora amboinensis kamaroma (Thailand), Cuora amboinensis ssp. (unknown), Cuora amboinensis ssp. (Philippines); Cuora trifasciata (Guangdong, China), Cuora aurocapitata (Anhui, China), Cuora pani pani (Shaanxi, China), Cuora yunnanensis (Yunnan, China); Cuora cyclornata cyclornata (Annam, central Vietnam), Cuora cyclornata meieri (north Vietnam), Cuora mccordi (Guangxi, China), Cuora zhoui (unknown); Cuora flavomarginata sinensis (Sichuan, China), Cuora flavomarginata evelynae (Ryukyu Islands, Japan), Cuora flavomarginata flavomarginata (Taiwan), Cuora picturata (southern Annam, south Vietnam); Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons (north Vietnam), Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons (Hainan, China); Cuora bourreti (Annam, central Vietnam), Cuora bourreti (Laos); Cuora cyclornata cyclornata × Cuora amboinensis kamaroma hybrid, Cuora cyclornata × Pyxidea mouhotii , Cuora trifasciata × Pyxidea mouhotii , Cuora galbinifrons × Pyxidea mouhotii = " Cuora serrata "

Taxonomy and systematics

Listed alphabetically by binomial name, the species are: [4]

Cuora serrata , originally described as C. galbinifrons serrata by Iverson & Mccord [10] and later considered a distinct species [11] is a hybrid of the keeled box turtle and taxa of the Indochinese box turtle complex as shown by the genetic studies of Parham et al. [12] and Stuart & Parham (2004). A single specimen of C. serrata has been found in the wild, [13] lending credence to the possibility that other specimens arose through natural hybridization or even from wild populations. No Chinese turtle farm is known to produce C. serrata-like specimens. [14] The occurrence of wild hybrids is often regarded as "evolution in progress", a terminology and point of view that is not always accepted. It has yet to be confirmed, whether all C. serrata from the wild have originated by direct hybridization of C. mouhotii and C. galbinifrons, or also by "hybridisation" of C. serrata × C. serrata.

Unnamed hybrids of several other Cuora taxa are also known, [Note 2] as are intergeneric hybrids such as Mauremys iversoni, [15] a hybrid between Cuora trifasciata and Mauremys mutica , which is intentionally produced in Chinese turtle farms. [12]

In captivity

Wild-caught C. amboinensis specimens were frequently available in the exotic animal trade, but are getting rarer now; other species are rare to commercially extinct.

See also

Notes

  1. Placed into subspecies status by Artner [5] and Blanck & Tang. [6]
  2. See Vetter & Van Dijk (2006).[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoemydidae</span> Family of turtles

The Geoemydidae are one of the largest and most diverse families in the order Testudines (turtles), with about 70 species. The family includes the Eurasian pond and river turtles and Neotropical wood turtles.

<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">Amboina box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle 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.

<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">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">Vietnamese pond turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Vietnamese pond turtle or Annam leaf turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae.

<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">Pan's box turtle</span> Species of turtle

Pan's box turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The yellow-headed box turtle is sometimes included herein as a subspecies.

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

The Yunnan box turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It is believed to be endemic to Yunnan, China and was suspected to be extinct since the early 20th century; the last verified specimen was collected in 1940.

The Fujian pond turtle is a possibly also naturally occurring intergeneric hybrid turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The Fujian pond turtle is produced in larger numbers by Chinese turtle farms as a "copy" of the golden coin turtle Cuora trifasciata. It appears to occur in China and Vietnam. Before its actual origin became known, it was listed as data deficient in the IUCN Red List.

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

The yellow pond turtle, is a medium-sized, semiaquatic turtle in the family Geoemydidae. This species has a characteristic broad yellow stripe extending behind the eye and down the neck; the carapace ranges in color from grayish brown to brown, and the plastron is yellow or orange with black blotches along the outer edges. It is native to East Asia, ranging from central Vietnam and Laos, north through the coastal provinces of south and central China, with insular populations known from Taiwan, Hainan and the Ryukyu Islands. Although populations in the southern Ryukyus are thought to be native, populations in the northern and central Ryukyus, as well as central Japan, are believed to have been introduced as a result of imports from Taiwan.

Mauremys pritchardi is an interspecific hybrid turtle in the family Geoemydidae. M. pritchardi, described to be from Myanmar, has been found in the wild in China and Japan, and is produced to some extent in Chinese turtle farms. It was listed as data deficient in the IUCN Red List before its actual origin became known.

"Mauremys" glyphistoma is a hybrid turtle in the family Geoemydidae. Originally described as a new species supposedly endemic to Guangxi/China; it was classified as Data Deficient in the IUCN Red List.

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

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle or golden thread turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. They are widely distributed in the subtropical regions of Taiwan.

The Chinese false-eyed turtle is a hybrid species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It is a hybrid between a male golden coin turtle and a female four-eyed turtle. While formerly considered to be a wild type species believed to be originally from Hainan, it is now known only from pet trade type specimens.

<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.

Cuora serrata, originally described as Cuora galbinifrons serrata and later considered a distinct species, are hybrid turtles as shown by genetic studies. These hybrids are bred in the wild and were documented for the first time in the wild in 2005, but not in captivity as "novelty" pets as suggested by James Parham and Bryan Stuart, between the keeled box turtle and taxa of the Indochinese box turtle complex. Unnamed hybrids of several other Cuora taxa are also known, as are intergeneric hybrids like Mauremys iversoni, a hybrid between Cuora trifasciata and Mauremys mutica which are intentionally produced in Chinese turtle farms.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Box turtle</span> Common name for several species of turtle

Box turtle is the common name for several species of turtle. It may refer to those of the genus Cuora or Pyxidea, which are the Asian box turtles, or more commonly to species of the genus Terrapene, the North American box turtles. They are largely characterized by having a shell shaped like a dome, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators. Furthermore, the two genera are very different in habitat, behavior and appearance, and are not even classified in the same family. Even though box turtles became very popular pets, their needs in captivity are complex and the capture of turtles can have serious detrimental effects on the wild population.

References

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  2. "URI researcher: World's most heavily trafficked turtle plays vital role in Indonesia environment, economy". The University of Rhode Island.
  3. Spinks, Phillip Q.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2007). "Conservation phylogenetics of the Asian box turtles (Geoemydidae, Cuora): mitochondrial introgression, numts, and inferences from multiple nuclear loci". Conservation Genetics. 8 (3): 641–657. Bibcode:2007ConG....8..641S. doi:10.1007/s10592-006-9210-1. S2CID   1739485 . Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  4. Cuora. The Reptile Database
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  12. 1 2 James Ford Parham; W. Brian Simison; Kenneth H. Kozak; Chris R. Feldman; Haitao Shi (2001). "New Chinese turtles: endangered or invalid? A reassessment of two species using mitochondrial DNA, allozyme electrophoresis and known-locality specimens". Animal Conservation . 4 (4): 357–367. Bibcode:2001AnCon...4..357P. doi:10.1017/S1367943001001421. S2CID   86757143. "Erratum". Animal Conservation. 5 (1): 86. 2002. Bibcode:2002AnCon...5...86.. doi: 10.1017/S1367943002001117 .
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  14. Zhou et al. (2008)[ citation needed ]
  15. Peter C. H. Pritchard & William P. McCord (1991). "A new emydid turtle from China". Herpetologica . 47 (2): 138–147. JSTOR   3892730.

Further reading