Mauremys annamensis

Taxobox
name = Vietnamese Pond Turtle


image_width =
image_caption =
status = CR
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Testudines
subordo = Cryptodira
superfamilia = Testudinoidea
familia = Geoemydidae
subfamilia = Geoemydinae
genus = "Mauremys"
species = "Mauremys annamensis"
binomial = "Mauremys annamensis"
binomial_authority = (Siebenrock, 1903)
synonyms ="Annamemys annamensis"
"Cyclemys annamensis""Annamemys merkleni"

The Vietnamese Pond Turtle or Annam Leaf Turtle ("Mauremys annamensis") is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (=Bataguridae).

It can be distinguished from its relatives by its color pattern: the head is dark with three or four yellow stripes down the side. The plastron (belly shield) is firmly attached, yellow or orange, with black blotch on each scute.Asian Turtle Network: [http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/field_guide/Mauremys_annamensis.htm "Mauremys annamensis"] . Version of August, 2006. Retrieved 2006-DEC-09.]

Endemic to a small area in central Vietnam, it was reportedly abundant in the 1930s but all field surveys after 1941 had failed to locate any individuals in the wildAsian Turtle Network: [http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/library/ATCN_news/2006_articles/Mauremys_annamensis_recorded_in_natural_habitat_after_65_years.html "Mauremys annamensis" recorded in natural habitat after 65 years] . Version of 2006-DEC-07. Retrieved 2007-SEP-03.] . As it was occasionally seen traded as food, it was not yet extinct in the wild howeverIUCN: [http://intranet.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/CoP12/Analyses/1221.pdf Inclusion of Annam Pond Turtle "Annamemys (Mauremys) annamensis" in Appendix II] . Retrieved 2006-DEC-09.] .

In 2006 a wild population of "Mauremys annamensis" was found near Hội An in Quảng Nam Province. Despite its rarity, specimens of "Mauremys annamensis" have been observed for sale in China and Hong Kong and have been illicitly imported into the USA. A small number of "Mauremys annamensis" are being captive-bred on Hainan Island in southern China, as well as at the Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center located in Cuc Phuong National Park in northern VietnamAsian Turtle Network: [http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/project%20profiles/vietnam/cuc_phuong.htm Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center] and by IUCN-affiliated breeders. Retrieved 2006-DEC-09.] . The species is nonetheless close to extinction in the wild, as illegal hunting seems to continue.

Hybridization with other Geoemydidae is known to occur. The species has produced hybrids with the Malayan Box Turtle in captivity. In addition, the supposed new species "Ocadia glyphistoma" has turned out to be the offspring of a male Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle and a female of the present species; it might have been taken from the wild or also have been captive-bred. Captive Vietnamese Pond Turtle - which are occasionally available to experienced hobbyists, under the auspices of the IUCN.coordinated captive-breeding program - must therefore never be housed together with related species [Parham "et al." (2001), Buskirk "et al." (2005). Hybridization in the wild would not seem to constitute a major threat, as the two parent species of "Ocadia" × glyphistoma" are not closely related and the hybrids are thus likely to be sterile. However, with a species as rare as the Vietnamese Pond Turtle, more research into this issue is certainly necessary.] .

Footnotes

References

*|year=2000|id=12876|title=Mauremys annamensis|downloaded=03 September 2007
*aut|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. [http://cc.usu.edu/~crfeldman/Buskirk_et_al_05.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (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. [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=4282B27D084B8B508074F736B4D11AD7.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=90491 HTML abstract] Erratum: "Animal Conservation" 5(1): 86 [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=100113&fulltextType=ER&fileId=S1367943002001117 HTML abstract]

External links

* [http://www.turtlesurvival.org/Annamensis.htm Major infusion of new bloodlines forecast for the Vietnam Pond Turtle, Mauremys annamensis, TMG]
* [http://www.chelonia.org/mauremys_gallery.htm Mauremys Gallery]