Chinese stripe-necked turtle

Chinese stripe-necked turtle
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Geoemydidae
Genus:	Mauremys(previously Ocadia)
Species:	M. sinensis
Binomial name
Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1834)
Synonyms
Ocadias sinensis

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis) is a species of turtle in the Geoemydidae (=Bataguridae) family. It is found in China (Hainan, Guangdong & Fujian), Taiwan, and northern & central Vietnam.

Like many other Geoemydidae, this species hybridizes vigorously with related and not-so-closely related members of its family. In captivity, hybrids have been produced between this species and Japanese pond turtle and the Chinese pond turtle, as well as with a male Cyclemys (oldhami) shanensis. The supposed species Ocadia glyphistoma is a hybrid between a male O. sinensis and a female Vietnamese pond turtle. A species nearly extinct in the wild. Ocadia philippeni was also shown to be of hybrid origin, a male Ocadia sinensis with a female Cuora trifasciata. Both are either naturally occurring or bred for the pet trade. Any individuals that are available as pets therefore need to be kept separate from other members of the family to prevent hybridization, especially considering that the Chinese stripe-necked turtle is threatened by overhunting and habitat destruction in the wild

References

• Asian Turtle Trade Working Group (2000). Ocadia sinensis. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 29 July 2007.
• 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