Chinese pond turtle

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Chinese pond turtle
Mauremys reevesii.jpg
Non-native M. reevesii in East Timor
Kusagame01.jpg
Melanistic male
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: Mauremys
Species:
M. reevesii
Binomial name
Mauremys reevesii
(Gray, 1831) [2]
Synonyms [3]
click to expand
  • * Emys reevesii
    Gray, 1831
  • * Clemmys (Clemmys) reevesii
    Fitzinger, 1835
  • * Emys vulgaris picta
    Schlegel, 1844
  • * Emys japonica
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron in
    A.M.C. Duméril & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851
  • * Geoclemys reevesii
    — Gray, 1856
  • * Damonia reevesii
    — Gray, 1869
  • * Damonia unicolor
    Gray, 1873
  • * Clemmys unicolor
    Sclater, 1873
  • * Damonia reevesii var. unicolor
    Boulenger, 1889
  • * Geoclemys [reevesii] reevesii
    Siebenrock, 1907
  • * Geoclemys reevesii unicolor
    — Siebenrock, 1907
  • * Geoclemmys [sic] reevesi
    — Vogt, 1924(ex errore)
  • * Geoclemys grangeri
    Schmidt, 1925
  • * Geoclemys paracaretta
    Chang, 1929
  • * Geoclemys reevesi grangeri
    — Mell, 1929
  • * Chinemys reevesi
    H.M. Smith, 1931
  • * Geoclemys papacaretta [sic]
    Fang, 1934(ex errore)
  • * Emys reevesi
    Bourret, 1941
  • * Chinemys reevesii
    Mertens & Wermuth, 1955
  • * Chinemys reevesi
    — Mao, 1971
  • * Chinemys grangeri
    Pritchard, 1979
  • * Chinemys pani
    Tao, 1988
  • * Chinemys reevessi [sic]
    Obst, 1996(ex errore)
  • * Chinemys reveesii [sic]
    Fritz, 1996(ex errore)
  • * Mauremys reevesii
    — Spinks, Shaffer, Iverson & McCord, 2004

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. [2] The species is native to East Asia.

Contents

It is one of the two most commonly found species used for divination that have been recovered from Shang dynasty sites. [4]

Description

While the species typically appears to have a brown shell, dark grey skin, with yellow markings on the neck and yellow irises, melanism is well documented in males, where the entirety of the animal including the eyes becomes completely black and the yellow markings are lost. Melanism only occurs in mature males over 7 years old. Old females may sometimes also develop darker shells and fewer markings. [5]

Certain populations of Reeve's turtles may exhibit megacephaly. Megacephalic turtles have much larger and broader heads, and hypertrophied jaws muscles. [6] In at least one other species of turtle, it appears that megacephaly may not be genetically linked, instead developing in individuals as a response to a heavily durophagous diet. [7]

Geographic range

Adult and young Reeve's turtles zenigametokusagameDSCF1296 (cropped).JPG
Adult and young Reeve's turtles

Mauremys reevesii is native to China and Korea, and is thought to have been introduced to Japan and Taiwan in historic times; it was previously thought to be native to both these regions. The species is thought to have been introduced to Japan from the Korean Peninsula near the end of the 18th century. Introduced populations of M. reevesii may serve as a threat to the native turtles of these regions due to its propensity for hybridization. [2] [8] [9] [10]

East Timor

During surveys in East Timor (Timor-Leste), a small but well-established population of M. reevesii was found living in marshes near the city of Dili. The species is not native to the island and was possibly introduced by locals of Chinese origin. [11] East Timor is home to the Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi), more specifically the subspecies C. m. timorensis (sometimes considered a species of its own). Although the introduced population of M. reevesii is not known to present a risk to the native turtles per se , they could indirectly present a threat to the natives if confused. M. reevesii from the introduced population are sometimes captured to be sold to people of Chinese origin and this may cause problems if extended to the native turtles. [11] A potential solution is to remove the introduced M. reevesii (thereby restricting the trade to captive farmed M. reevesii). [11]

Habitat and behaviour

M. reevesii is semiaquatic, and basks in the sun on rocks or logs and can often be found leaving water to do so. They can usually be found in marshes, relatively shallow ponds, streams, and canals with muddy or sandy bottoms.

Conservation status

The Chinese three-keeled pond turtle (M. reevesii) is threatened by competition with released pet red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), overhunting (its plastron is used in traditional Chinese medicine), [12] [13] capturing for the pet trade, and wild habitat destruction. The IUCN considers M. reevesii an endangered species. [8] This species, fortunately, breeds well in captivity. [10]

Etymology

The specific name, reevesii, is in honor of English naturalist John Reeves. [14]

Hybridization

This species, Mauremys reevesii, is notorious for its ability to produce hybrids with other Geoemydidae, even species that are only distantly related. The supposed new species " Mauremys pritchardi " was based on a hybrid of unknown origin between a male of this species and a female yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica). Furthermore, it has hybridized with the Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Ocadia sinensis), female Malayan box turtles (Cuora amboinensis), a male four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata), and the Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) in captivity. [15] [16] This hybridization may pose a threat to the populations of native M. mutica and Chinese stripe-necked turtle (M. sinensis) in Taiwan, and the endemic M. japonica in Japan. [10]

Any individuals that are available as pets therefore need to be kept separate from other members of the family.

Farming

Chinese pond turtle in Tokyo.

High demand for turtle plastrons for Shang divination rites and archaeological findings of large caches of turtle shells has led some scholars to speculate that Mauremys reevesii may have been farmed for this purpose in antiquity. [17]

M. reevesii is one of the species raised on China's modern-day turtle farms. According to a 1998 survey, 548 farms raised this turtle species in four provinces in China. The statistical data from different provinces were in different formats; however, two provinces reported 20,650 turtles living on 26 farms, with 5,000 animals reproduced annually; the other two provinces reported the total weight of their turtles, namely some 260 tons of these animals on 522 farms. Over the five-year period, 1990–1995, 13 traditional Chinese medicine factories consumed 430 tons of C. reevesii plastrons. [18]

Based on a more recent (2002) survey of 684 Chinese turtle farms (less than half of all 1,499 turtle farms that were registered at the time), researchers found that 2.8 million of turtles of this species (reported there as Chinemys reevesii) lived on these farms, with some 566,000 specimens sold by farmers every year. The total weight of the annual product was 320 tons, with the estimated value of over US$6 million, which makes the market value of a Chinese pond turtle equal to around $12—about twice as much that of the most common farmed species, Pelodiscus sinensis . Taking into account the registered farms that did not respond to the survey, as well as the unregistered producers, the total amounts must be considerably higher. [19]

Pet trade

Chinese pond turtles are farmed for the pet trade. In captivity, they require similar care to red-eared sliders (T. s. elegans).

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">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">Oldham's leaf turtle</span> Species of turtle

Oldham's leaf turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae.

<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">Chinese softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Chinese softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle that is native to mainland China and Taiwan, with records of escapees—some of which have established introduced populations—in a wide range of other Asian countries, as well as Spain, Brazil and Hawaii.

<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.

The Chinese broad-headed pond turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It is endemic to China.

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

The red-necked pond turtle is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae endemic to China. It is most likely restricted to Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, although pre-historic skull remains have been found in northern Vietnam and Hainan. Other common names include Kwangtung river turtle and black-necked pond turtle.

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.

<i>Mauremys</i> Genus of turtles

Mauremys is a genus of turtles in the family Geoemydidae.

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

The Japanese pond turtle, also called commonly the Japanese pond terrapin and the Japanese pond tortoise, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae endemic to Japan. Its Japanese name is nihon ishigame, Japanese stone turtle. Its population has decreased somewhat due to habitat loss, but it is not yet considered a threatened species.

<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.

<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.

<i>Pelodiscus</i> Genus of turtles

Pelodiscus is a genus of turtles in the family Trionychidae, the softshells. Based on genetic and morphological analysis there are seven valid species. They are native to Eastern Asia, ranging from the Amur region, south through China and Korea, as far south as Vietnam. Populations in Japan are thought to likely originate from historic human introductions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turtle farming</span> Practice of raising turtles commercially

Turtle farming is the practice of raising turtles and tortoises of various species commercially. Raised animals are sold for use as gourmet food, traditional medicine ingredients, or as pets. Some farms also sell young animals to other farms, either as breeding stock, or more commonly to be raised there to a larger size for subsequent resale.

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

The Iberian pond turtle, also known as the Mediterranean pond turtle or Mediterranean turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balkan terrapin</span> Species of turtle

The Balkan terrapin or western Caspian terrapin is a species of terrapin in the family Geoemydidae. It is found in the eastern Mediterranean region. While technically omnivorous, the terrapins are known to prefer meat. They can grow to 25 cm (9.8 in) in carapace length, although hatchlings are usually only 3 to 4 cm in length.

References

  1. van Dijk, P.P. 2011. Mauremys reevesii (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T170502A97431862. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T170502A6783291.en. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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  5. Yabe, Takashi (1994). "Population Structure and Male Melanism in the Reeves' Turtle, Chinemys reevesii". Japanese Journal of Herpetology. 15 (4): 131–137. doi:10.5358/hsj1972.15.4_131. ISSN   0285-3191.
  6. Iverson, John B.; Ernst, Carl H.; Gotte, Steve; Lovich, Jeffrey E. (23 May 1989). "The Validity of Chinemys megalocephala (Testudines: Batagurinae)". Copeia. 1989 (2): 494. doi:10.2307/1445452. JSTOR   1445452.
  7. Iverson, John B. (16 June 2020). "Potential Environmental Basis for Megacephaly in the Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 19 (1): 137. doi:10.2744/CCB-1407.1. ISSN   1071-8443.
  8. 1 2 ATTWG (2000)
  9. Suzuki, Dai; Yabe, Takashi; Hikida, Tsutomu (December 2013). "Hybridization between Mauremys japonica and Mauremys reevesii Inferred by Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Analyses". Journal of Herpetology. 48 (4): 445–454. doi:10.1670/11-320. ISSN   0022-1511. S2CID   86411251.
  10. 1 2 3 Rhodin, Anders G.J. (15 November 2021). Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (9th Ed.). Chelonian Research Monographs. Vol. 8. Chelonian Research Foundation and Turtle Conservancy. doi:10.3854/crm.8.checklist.atlas.v9.2021. ISBN   978-0-9910368-3-7. S2CID   244279960.
  11. 1 2 3 Kaiser, Hinrich; Taylor, David; Heacox, Scott; Landry, Paul; Sanchez, Caitlin; Varela Ribeiro, Agivedo; Lemos de Araujo, Luis; Kathriner, Andrew; O'Shea, Mark (30 June 2013). "Conservation education in a post-conflict country five hematological case studies in Timor-Leste" (PDF). Salamandra. 49 (2). ISSN   0036-3375 . Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  12. da Nóbrega Alves, Rômulo Romeu; da Silva Vieira; Washington Luiz & Gomes Santana, Gindomar (2008): Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: conservation implications. Biodiversity and Conservation17(8): 2037–2049. doi : 10.1007/s10531-007-9305-0 (HTML abstract, PDF first page)
  13. Subhuti Dharmananda. "Endangered species issues affecting turtles and tortoises used in Chinese medicine".
  14. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Chinemys reevesii, p. 218).
    • Parham, James Ford; Simison, W. Brian; Kozak, Kenneth H.; Feldman, Chris R. & Shi, Haitao (2001): New Chinese turtles: endangered or invalid? A reassessment of two species using mitochondrial DNA, allozyme electrophoresis and known-locality specimens. Animal Conservation4(4): 357–367. PDF fulltext Archived 24 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine Erratum:Animal Conservation5(1): 86 HTML abstract
  15. Buskirk, James R.; Parham, James F. & Feldman, Chris R. (2005): On the hybridisation between two distantly related Asian turtles (Testudines: Sacalia × Mauremys). Salamandra 41: 21-26. PDF fulltext
  16. Keightley, David N. (1978). Sources of Shang history : the oracle-bone inscriptions of Bronze Age Chin (2 ed.). Berkeley ; London: University of California Press. p. 12. ISBN   0-520-05455-5.
  17. GUO Yinfeng, ZOU Xueying, CHEN Yan, WANG Di & WANG Sung. "Sustainability of Wildlife Use in Traditional Chinese Medicine". 1998. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2009.; also quoted in: Subhuti Dharmananda. "Endangered species issues affecting turtles and tortoises used in Chinese medicine".
  18. Shi, Haitao; Parham, James F; Fan, Zhiyong; Hong, Meiling; Yin, Feng (1 January 2008), "Evidence for the massive scale of turtle farming in China", Oryx, vol. 42, Cambridge University Press, pp. 147–150, doi: 10.1017/S0030605308000562 (inactive 5 November 2024){{citation}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)

Further reading