Asian box turtle

Asian box turtle
	Amboina box turtle, Cuora amboinensis
Scientific classification
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;

Last updated February 24, 2024

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]

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.

Taxonomy and systematics

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

Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle, C. amboinensis (four subspecies)
- Wallacean box turtle, C. a. amboinensis
- West Indonesian box turtle, C. a. couro
- Malayan box turtle or domed Malayan box turtle, C. a. kamaroma
- Burmese box turtle, C. a. lineata
Yellow-headed box turtle or golden-headed box turtle, Cuora aurocapitata or C. (pani) aurocapitata^{[Note 1]}
Bourret's box turtle, C. bourreti
†Cuora chiangmuanensis^[7] (Late Miocene of Thailand)
Vietnamese three-striped box turtle or green rice turtle, Cuora cyclornata (three subspecies)
Chinese box turtle, yellow-margined box turtle, or golden-headed turtle, C. flavomarginata (two subspecies)
Indochinese box turtle, Vietnamese box turtle or flowerback box turtle, C. galbinifrons
McCord's box turtle, C. mccordi
†Cuora miyatai^[8] (Middle Pleistocene of Japan)
Keeled box turtle, C. mouhotii (two subspecies)
Pan's box turtle, C. pani = "C. chriskarannarum"
Southern Vietnamese box turtle, C. picturata
†Cuora pitheca^{[ citation needed ]} (Late Miocene of China)
Philippine box turtle, C. philippensis^{[ citation needed ]}
Golden coin turtle or Chinese three-striped box turtle, C. trifasciata
†Cuora tungia^[9] (Lower Pleistocene of China)
Yunnan box turtle, C. yunnanensis - rediscovered in 2004, verified in 2007
Zhou's box turtle, C. zhoui = "C. pallidicephala"

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.

Notes

↑ Placed into subspecies status by Artner^[5] and Blanck & Tang.^[6]
↑ 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. Members of this family are commonly called Leaf turtle.

<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.

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.

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.

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

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">Yellow-headed box turtle</span> Species of turtle

The yellow-headed box turtle or golden-headed box turtle is a proposed species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of Pan's box 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.

The Fujian pond turtle is a possibly also naturally occurring intergeneric hybrid turtle in the family Geoemydidae 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

1 2 Spinks, P. Q., et al. (2012). Species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships in the critically endangered Asian box turtle genus Cuora. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 63(3), 656-67.
↑ "URI researcher: World's most heavily trafficked turtle plays vital role in Indonesia environment, economy". The University of Rhode Island.
↑ 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.
↑ Cuora. The Reptile Database
↑ H. Artner (2004). "Haltung und Nachzucht von Pans Scharnierschildkröte Cuora pani pani Song, 1984 und der Goldkopf-Scharnierschildkröte Cuora pani aurocapitata Luo & Zong, 1988". Emys. 11 (1): 4–21.
↑ T. Blanck & M. Tang (2005). "Ein neuer Fundort von Cuora pani Song, 1984 mit Diskussion über den taxonomischen Status von Cuora pani und Cuora aurocapitata". Sacalia. 7 (3): 16–37.
↑ Naksri, Wilailuck; Tong, Haiyan; Lauprasert, Komsorn; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Claude, Julien (2013). "A new species of Cuora (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from the Miocene of Thailand and its evolutionary significance". Geological Magazine. 150 (5): 908–922. Bibcode:2013GeoM..150..908N. doi:10.1017/S0016756812001082. S2CID 85781762.
↑ "Revision of the systematics of the fossil turtles from Japan". 2007.
↑ "A revision of Testudo tungia Yeh, 1963 from the Lower Pleistocene Gigantopithecus cave, Liucheng, Guangxi Province, China" (PDF). 2013.
↑ J. B. Iverson & W. P. McCord (1992). "A new subspecies of Cuora galbinifrons (Testudines: Batagurinae) from Hainan Island, China". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington . 105: 433–439.
↑ F. J. Obst & U. Fritz (1997). "Zum taxonomischen Status von Cuora galbinifrons serrata Iverson & McCord, 1992 und Pyxidea mouhotii (Gray, 1862)". Zoologische Abhandlungen . Museum für Tierkunde Dresden. 49 (2): 261–279.
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 .
↑ H. Shi; J. F. Parham; W. B. Simison; J. Wang; S. Gong; B. Fu (2005). "A report on the hybridization between two species of threatened Asian box turtles (Testudines: Cuora) in the wild on Hainan Island (China) with comments on the origin of C. serrata-like turtles". Amphibia-Reptilia . 26 (3): 377–381. doi: 10.1163/156853805774408487 .
↑ Zhou et al. (2008)^{[ citation needed ]}
↑ Peter C. H. Pritchard & William P. McCord (1991). "A new emydid turtle from China". Herpetologica . 47 (2): 138–147. JSTOR 3892730.