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This paper provides a detailed account of Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tecta (Gray, 1831) recorded alive from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.

The marginal populations of the Sahara blue-eyed pond turtle, Mauremys leprosa saharica (Testudines: Geoemydidae) in the pre-Saharan area in the Lower Draa Valley, are faced to extreme environmental conditions of arid climate and anthropogenic activities including overuse of water and land salinization. In this study, we investigated a small isolated population of the blue-eyed pond turtle at Sidi El Mehdaoui Oasis, Lower Draa Valley, to determine its population structure and morphometric characteristics. Water salinity was about 24% of seawater and dissolved oxygen concentration was less than 3 mg l−1 (sub-hypoxia). The average body size of adults (carapace length) was much lower in comparison to other Moroccan populations. Among adult individuals, the mean carapace lengths were 103 ± 21 mm and 104.4 ± 35 mm for males and females, respectively. The corresponding mean body mass were 173 ± 92.4 g and 135 ± 52 g. There were no significant differences between sexes for size or weight. The studied population is small, with a predominance of adults (75%). A significant sexual size dimorphism was found. In fact, the Sexual Dimorphism Index for size had the lowest level ever described for the species possibly because of the low productivity of this marginal isolated habitat. The increased drought and salinization are major threats to the long-term persistence of the vulnerable populations of the Saharan blue-eyed pond turtle and their habitats. Therefore, conservation measures of these populations through the protection of their habitats are very urgent.

The Siam Shield Leech, Placobdelloides siamensis, is a common leech found on Malayemys turtles in Thailand. Sixty Snail-eating Turtles (29 Malayemys macrocephala and 31 M. subtrijuga) were caught over twelve months (February 2017 – January 2018) to determine host characteristics (body size, weight and sex), parasitism (prevalence, intensity and density) and seasonal aquatic environmental factors (conductivity, nitrate nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity and total dissolved solids). There was no significant difference of infection rate between species and sex in both turtle species. Leech prevalence indicated that all turtle individuals were infected throughout year, while the infection rate was significantly higher in larger and heavier turtles mainly on the carapace with an average number of leech approximately 474.80 ± 331.38 individuals for individual host infection and 76.53 ± 20.27 individuals for infection per 100 g body weight. The high level of leech parasitism also caused a rot wound and shell hole which caused the host to die. Aquatic environmental factors did not influence the infection of leeches in both turtle species. Therefore, the factors that influenced the infection rate of P. siamensis were based on only host body size and weight without effect from season. In addition, this study also showed two new hosts, including Cyclemys oldhamii and Heosemys grandis and the widespread distribution from northern, north-eastern, western, central and southern Thailand were reported.

Wildlife trade has been considered one of the largest threats to biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Many vertebrates, such as pangolins, elephants and turtles have been heavily hunted as a result of high demand from emerging markets in China and other countries in the region. In Vietnam, over-exploitation of turtles over several decades to supply the international trade has extirpated numerous populations and driven several species to the brink of extinction. To reverse this trend, conservation measures, such as re-introduction of confiscated or captive-bred animals to their native habitats, should be implemented to recover severely declined local populations. For species with a complex phylogeographic structure, however, it is crucial to understand geographic patterns of genetically-distinct populations to avoid releasing animals of unknown origin to wrong localities. In this study, we investigate the phylogeographic pattern of the Four-eyed Turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata), a widely traded species, which occurs in southern China, northern and central Laos and much of Vietnam, using samples with known localities and those collected from the local trade. Our range-wide phylogenetic and network study, based on the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, recovered at least three major clades and seven subclades within the species range. Amongst these, two subclades, one from northern Annamites, Vietnam and the other from north-eastern Laos, are newly discovered. The fine scale phylogeographic analysis helped us to assign misidentified sequences from GenBank and those from confiscated animals with unknown origin to well-defined geographic populations. The results highlight the importance of incorporating samples collected from the local trade and the wild in genetic analyses to support both ex-situ and in-situ conservation programmes of highly-threatened species in accordance with the IUCN’s One Plan Approach.

International audience; Haemogregarina species are apicomplexan blood parasites infecting vertebrates such as fish, lizards, and turtles. Due to the high morphological similarity of the erythrocytic stages infecting host species, it has always been a challenge to identify the true diversity of these parasites. Therefore, taxonomic studies are presently based on the combination of morphological and molecular data. In Tunisia, two species of Haemogregarina have been reported within the freshwater turtle Mauremys leprosa (Geoemydidae) for more than 40 years. Since M. leprosa occurs in the same aquatic environments as Emys orbicularis (Emydidae) in Tunisia, our objectives were to assess parasite diversity and specificity on the basis of both morphological and molecular approaches. The turtles were surveyed and sampled across six aquatic areas of Tunisia. Among the 39 specimens of M. leprosa and seven of E. orbicularis that were trapped and investigated, the presence of haemogregarines was detected in the blood of turtles only at sites where leeches were observed. Three 18S variants were identified, which corresponded to three distinct Haemogregarina species, among which one was identified as Haemogregarina stepanowi. The two other species that were detected are likely new to science. Because we show the occurrence of more than one blood parasite species within a single host specimen, our study provides the first report of coinfection with molecularly distinct Haemogregarina spp.

Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) was considered as a specific host of Placobdella costata (Fr. Mûller, 1846). However, since the parasite was recorded from outside the distribution area of its host, some authors suggested a possible relationship with other hosts. Although two accidental associations were found with another turtle, Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812), the obtained data remain insufficient to better understand this discovered host-parasite ecological system. In this context, the present study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the Mediterranean pond turtle, M. leprosa, and the freshwater rhynchobdellid leech, P. costata (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae), in aquatic ecosystems of Morocco. During the period from April to June 2018, we found leeches attached to turtles in five out of 30 populations sampled with a prevalence of infection significantly higher in adult than that in juvenile turtles. Moreover, the males are the most infested with 51% of the total, followed by females (33.3%) and juveniles (15.7%). The obtained results indicated that 51 turtles were infested by 139 leeches with a mean intensity of infestation of 4.17 ± 0.47 leeches/turtle (up to 10 leeches/turtle). It was higher in males than that in females in almost all sites. The posterior limbs are the most preferred attachment site, and the body condition of turtles was not affected by the intensity of infestation but it is rather a function of altitude. Our findings proved that M. leprosa-P. costata association is more than accidental and that M. leprosa is rather the main host of P. costata in aquatic ecosystems of Morocco.

We report the distribution of the Western Black-bridged Leaf Turtle, Cyclemys atripons Iverson & McCord, 1997, from Vietnam for the first time. This species was recorded on Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. This record extends the distribution of this species approximately 100 km east of the previously recorded location in Kok Kong, Cambodia. This discovery raises the recorded number of species of genus Cyclemys in Vietnam to three: C. atripons, C. oldhamii Gray, 1863, and C. pulchristriata Fritz, Gaulke & Lehr, 1997.

This contribution presents a complete revision of the extinct geoemydid Echmatemys from North America, based on new information and a re-evaluation of previously published specimens. Echmatemys is ...

Herpesviruses are important pathogens in tortoises and turtles, yet little is known about the epidemiology of these viruses. We analyzed herpesviruses detected by PCR in samples from captive chelonians in Europe according to virus strain, host species, year and season in which the animal was tested, and country in which the animal was kept. A total of 4,797 samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Europe between January 2016 and December 2020 were evaluated. Of these, 312 (6.50%) were positive for herpesviruses. The types most commonly found were testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV)1 (143 positive, 45.83%) and TeHV3 (153 positive, 49.04%), but also included TeHV2 (1 positive, 0.32%), TeHV4 (3 positive, 0.96%), Terrapene herpesvirus 1 (7 positive, 2.24%), Trachemys herpesvirus 1 (2 positive, 0.64%), and three previously undescribed herpesviruses (0.96%). Herpesviruses were detected in chelonians in the families Testudinidae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, and in the suborder Pleurodira. Among the species for which 100 samples or more were available, the highest proportions of positive samples (positivity rates) were found in samples from Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii) (14.96%), and radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) (14.05%). Among tortoises (Testudinidae), viruses were most often detected in the spring, while in emydid turtles (Emydidae) they were most often detected in the summer. A comparison of the positivity rates according to country showed significant differences, with the highest rate in samples from Italy (16.01%). This study indicated possible differences in herpesvirus positivity rates depending on host species, virus strain, year of sampling, season, and country of origin. It provides useful information in further understanding fluctuations in infection rates as well as in helping to guide decision making for herpesvirus diagnostics in chelonian patients. It also provides evidence for the international dispersal of herpesviruses with their hosts through international trade.

Background Quantity discrimination, the ability to discriminate a magnitude of difference or discrete numerical information, plays a key role in animal behavior. While quantitative ability has been well documented in fishes, birds, mammals, and even in previously unstudied invertebrates and amphibians, it is still poorly understood in reptiles and has never been tested in an aquatic turtle despite the fact that evidence is accumulating that reptiles possess cognitive skills and learning ability. To help address this deficiency in reptiles, we investigated the quantitative ability of an Asian freshwater turtle, Mauremys sinensis, using red cubes on a white background in a trained quantity discrimination task. While spontaneous quantity discrimination methods are thought to be more ecologically relevant, training animals on a quantity discrimination task allows more comparability across taxa. Results We assessed the turtles’ quantitative performance in a series of tests with increasing quantity ratios and numerosities. Surprisingly, the turtles were able to discriminate quantities of up to 9 versus 10 (ratio = 0.9), which shows a good quantitative ability that is comparable to some endotherms. Our results showed that the turtles’ quantitative performance followed Weber’s law, in which success rate decreased with increasing quantity ratio across a wide range of numerosities. Furthermore, the gradual improvement of their success rate across different experiments and phases suggested that the turtles possess learning ability. Conclusions Reptile quantitative ability has long been ignored and therefore is likely under-estimated. More comparative research on numerical cognition across a diversity of species will greatly contribute to a clearer understanding of quantitative ability in animals and whether it has evolved convergently in diverse taxa.

We present new fossil records of the geoemydid turtle Bridgeremys pusilla from the Uinta Formation of Utah. Turtles are abundant throughout the unit, and known taxa are similar to those from the older strata in the Upper Green River Basin in Wyoming from the Bridger and Washakie Formations. B. pusilla is known from Bridgerian deposits but was not previously known from after the Turtle Bluff Member of the Bridger Formation. The taxon was coveal with two species of the geoemydid Echmatemys (E. callopyge and E. wyomingensis), a common genus of extinct pond turtles known primarily from lacustrine and fluvial deposits in western North America, including the Uinta Basin. In addition to previously documented morphological differences, our geometric morphometric analyses revealed significant differences in epiplastral morphology between B. pusilla and the two coeval Echmatemys species. Bridgeremys pusilla shared several morphological characters with Testudinidae. However, our anatomical network analysis suggests that the carapace of B. pusilla distributed stress forces in a manner more similar to emydids (basal and derived) than to derived testudinoids (Testudinidae and Emydidae), including Echmatemys species. This finding changes our understanding of the ecology of the species and sheds light onto how geoemydid turtles of the Uinta Formation may have partitioned the available ecospace. These new Uintan records extend the geographic range of B. pusilla into the Uinta Basin and stratigraphically through the top of the Uinta Formation, extending the temporal range of the taxon by more than 4 million years through the Uintan North American Land Mammal Age to the base of the Duchesne River Formation.

An individual of the Assam Leaf Turtle Cyclemys gemeli was sighted at an elevation of 580m in Darjeeling. This is the first record of the species from the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, India. Photographs and locality record of the sighting are provided in the present communication.

A description of Pleistocene fossil turtles discovered in the Talara Tar Seeps, Tablazos deposits of the northern coast of Peru is provided in this paper. The specimens are mostly fragmentary plates of carapaces and plastra of turtles belonging to two cryptodiran families of the superfamily Testudinoidea, identified to genus level based on measurements and comparisons with extant and fossil taxa and identification of mosaic diagnostic features. Turtles of the Geoemydidae family are the most abundant, with fossil remains attributed to Rhinoclemmys (indeterminate species). Less abundant fossil remains belong to the Testudinidae, with specimens attributed to the genus Chelonoidis (indeterminate species). These fossils show that the northern coast of Peru had ecosystems that supported abundant aquatic and terrestrial turtles (tortoises) during the Pleistocene in areas where they are completely absent today., El presente trabajo proporciona una descripción de las tortugas fósiles del Pleistoceno descubiertas en el yacimiento de brea de Talara, en la costa norte del Perú. La mayoría de los especímenes son fragmentos de placas del caparazón y del plastrón de tortugas pertenecientes a dos familias de criptodiras dentro de la superfamilia Testudinoidea. La familia Geoemydidae es la más abundante con restos fósiles atribuidos a Rhinoclemmys (especie indeterminada). Los restos fósiles menos abundantes pertenecen a Testudinidae, con especímenes atribuidos al género Chelonoidis (especie indeterminada). Estos fósiles muestran que la costa norte del Perú tenía ecosistemas que permitieron la abundancia de tortugas acuáticas y terrestres durante el Pleistoceno, en áreas donde hoy están completamente ausentes.

Mauremys reevesii (Gray, 1831), which belongs to Mauremys of Geoemydidae (Testudines), distributed in China, as well as Japan and Korea. Previous studies have developed several polymorphic microsatellite loci, but most of them were dinucleotide motifs. Here, we developed 15 polynucleotide-repeat microsatellite loci (including di-, tri, tetra-and pentanucleotide motifs) for M. reevesii through Restriction-site Associated DNA tags sequencing (RAD-seq). A total of 987 microsatellite loci with flanking sequences were suitable for setting primers for polymerase chain reactions (PCR). To verify the identified SSRs, 40 primer pairs were selected for PCR detection. In total, 32 primer sets produced strong PCR products matching their expected sizes, in which species amplification tests showed that 15 were polymorphic. And the number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 16. The observed and expected heterozygosity per locus varied from 0.3784 to 1.000 and from 0.3995 to 0.9700, respectively. The methodology of microsatellite isolation constructed in this study is not only cost-effective and time-saving in comparison to traditional approaches, but also can be served as useful tools which benefit population genetics studies and conservation management of M. reevesii.

Falcaustra tintlwini sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Batagur trivittata (Testudines, Geoemydidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra tintlwini represents the 20th Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Oriental species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 12 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (0.43-0.50 mm) and absence of a pseudosucker.

We report the southernmost distribution of Eastern Black-bridged Leaf Turtle Cyclemys pulchristriata Fritz, Gaulke & Lehr, 1997, in an isolated mountain in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data of a wild juvenile captured in the wild. This record extends the distribution of this species about 150 km south of previous records and 600 km from its type locality.

Testudinoidea represents an evolutionarily unique taxon comprising both turtles and tortoises. The contrasting habitats that turtles and tortoises inhabit are associated with unique physio-ecological challenges hence enable distinct adaptive evolutionary strategies. To comparatively understand the pattern and strength of Darwinian selection and physicochemical evolution in turtle and tortoise mitogenomes, we employed adaptive divergence and selection analyses. We evaluated changes in structural and biochemical properties, and codon models on the mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) among three turtles and a tortoise lineage. We used mitochondrial PCGs that constitute the crucial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) respiratory system, a critical metabolic regulator which assumes key significance in energy regulation of ectotherms.We detected strong evidence of positive selection along the turtle lineages: Geoemydidae, Emydidae, and Platysternidae, but relatively weak signals in tortoises. The Platysternidae turtles revealed the highest gene and site-wise positive selection. In turtles, positively selected sites were prevalent in NAD2 and NAD4 genes in OXPHOS Complex I, and COB gene of Complex III, indicating convergent adaptive evolution. Besides, NAD3 was the only subunit that showed adaptive selection in both turtles and tortoises, expressing its relevance for all Testudinoidea. Structural and functional analysis revealed many sites and physiochemical changes in important conserved as well as biomedically significant regions, suggesting the influence of adaptive pressure on mitogenome functions. Hence, our study furnished novel evidence of contrasting evolutionary selective pressure acting on closely related groups such as turtles and tortoises with unique habitat preferences and associated eco-physiological challenges.

Turtles of the clade Testudinoidea have a rather scarce fossil record in Afro-Arabia, ranging from the late Eocene up to the Quaternary. The vast majority of testudinoid fossils from Afro-Arabia are ascribed to Testudinidae, which has had a continuous presence in the area since the late Eocene. Geoemydidae is poorly documented by fragments found throughout the Neogene across northern Africa and the Middle East. Emydidae is absent from the fossil record of this area. All valid named taxa pertain to testudinids. Within Testudinidae, the majority of known fossil species are members of the clade Geochelona, while a few others belong to the clade Testudona. Four fossil taxa are members of now-extinct genera, five are members of extant genera, and seven cannot be assigned to a known genus with certainty. The fossil record also documents that several extant genera had a much broader distribution during the Neogene and Quaternary. Endemic insular lineages were formerly present on the Canary Islands, Cape Verde islands, and on several islands in the Western Indian Ocean. The highest known diversity of testudinoids seems to have existed during the Neogene; however, definitive conclusions are hampered by the extremely poor Paleogene record and large, unsampled areas of Afro-Arabia. A taxonomic review of the 22 named Afro-Arabian taxa finds 16 nomina valida, 1 nomen invalidum, and 5 nomina dubia.

New Pleistocene fossilized turtle remains from five localities of western Ecuador (Santa Elena Province) are described here. All these shell (carapace and plastron) fossil remains come from the Tablazo Formation and belong to three different lineages of cryptodires (“hidden-necked” turtles). The most abundant remains belong to geoemydids, attributed here to the genus Rhinoclemmys (indeterminate species). Less abundant in occurrence are the kinosternidids, attributed to Kinosternon (indeterminate species), and the first fossil record of chelydrids, Chelydra(indeterminate species), in the entirety of Central and South America.

Altres ajuts: Forschungskredit of the University of Zurich (FK-20-110), Former postdoctoral grant from the University of Torino, Fondi di Ateneo dell'Università di Torino (2019-2020) We here describe a small turtle assemblage originating from the early Tortonian (late Miocene) palaeoisland of Scontrone, central Italy, a locality previously known mostly for its endemic mammals and giant birds, which were otherwise shared only with the Gargano localities, another fossiliferous area belonging to the same palaeobioprovince. The fossil turtle remains from Scontrone are referred to the geoemydid Mauremys sp. and a so far unidentified large-sized testudinid. The biogeographic origins of the Scontrone insular chelonians are discussed. The Scontrone geoemydid adds to the known occurrences of Mauremys in the late Miocene of the Mediterranean. The Scontrone large tortoise represents the oldest known Mediterranean insular testudinid, predating significantly the well-known Quaternary endemic island tortoises of the area.

Revealing the genetic basis of the existence of different species living together in different geographic regions provides clarification of this phylogeographic differentiation. In this study, we investigated the population genetics and evaluated the level of genetic variation of inland and coastal populations of Mauremys and Emys in Turkey. Tissue samples of 196 terrapins were studied which were collected from syntopic coastal (Golbent-Soke/Aydin; M. rivulata and E. orbicularis) and inland populations (Bahcesaray/Aksaray; M. caspica and E. orbicularis). DNA was isolated using the InnuPREP DNA Mini Kit. Mitochondrial DNA sequences and allelic variation at 13 microsatellite loci for Mauremys and 12 microsatellite loci for Emys were examined. Three haplotypes were found for Emys orbicularis (Im, Ip and Iw) collected from the coastal region and two haplotypes for Emys orbicularis (Ig and Im) collected from inland. Two haplotypes were identified for M. caspica (Cmt8 and Cmt9) and three haplotypes were identified for M. rivulata (Rmt3, Rmt24 and Rmt26). Using microsatellites and the software STRUCTURE the most probable value for K was revealed as two 2 for both species. The FST value between M. rivulata and M. caspica was 0.39, and between the coastal and inland populations of E. orbicularis 0.09. It can be concluded that Emys populations tend to evolve by somehow preserving the allelic richness they have and Mauremys populations continue to differentiate so that new species emerge in the evolutionary process to reach the ideal allelic structure.

A Late Pleistocene fossil represented by an incomplete right hypoplastron of Cuora amboinensis was recovered from the Wajak site (ca. 37 ka–29 ka: Late Pleistocene) in East Java, Indonesia. The fossil constitutes the first certain prehistoric record of this species from Java, which implies that the current conspecific population in this island is indigenous to the region rather than artificially introduced from the Southeast Asian continent in historic times. The specimen has four small distinct impact pits on the hypoplastron in dorsal view, which were possibly caused by a pointed stone artifact or a bone tool. The presence of such percussion marks suggests that this turtle was consumed by the Wajak people.

The marginal populations of the Sahara Blue-eyed pond turtle, Mauremys leprosa saharica (Testudines: Geoemydidae) in the pre-Saharan area in the Lower Draa valley, are facing extreme environmental conditions of arid climate and anthropogenic activities, including overuse of water and land salinization. In this study, we investigated a small isolated population of the Blue-eyed pond turtle at Sidi El Mehdaoui oasis, Lower Draa valley, to determine its population structure and morphometric characteristics. Water salinity was about 24% of seawater and dissolved oxygen concentration was less than 3 mg · L−1 (sub-hypoxia). Turtles were captured, sexed, weighed, and measured for the carapace dimensions before being released. The average body size of adults (carapace length) was much smaller than those in other Moroccan populations. Among adult individuals, the mean carapace lengths were 103 ± 21 mm and 104.4 ± 35 mm for males and females, respectively. The corresponding mean body masses were 173 ± 92.4 g and 135 ± 52 g. There were no significant differences between sexes for size or weight (P > 0.05). The studied population is small with a predominance of adults (75%). Sexual dimorphism was found to be significant in shape but not in size. In fact, the Sexual Dimorphism Index for size had the lowest level ever described for the species, possibly because of the low productivity of this marginal isolated habitat. The increased drought and salinization are great threats to the long-term persistence of the vulnerable populations of the Saharan blue-eyed pond turtle and their habitats. Therefore, conservation measures of these populations through the protection of their habitats are very urgent.

The Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata Duméril & Bibron, 1835) is a large (straight-line carapace length [CL] to 620 mm; Platt et al., 2019), aquatic, herbivorous turtle endemic to the major river systems of Myanmar (Smith 1931; TTWG 2017). Although historically widespread and apparently abundant, long-term population declines resulted from chronic egg collecting, subsistence harvesting of adults, and loss of critical nesting habitat (Platt et al. 2017a). By the late 1990s B. trivittata was considered a candidate for Extinct status (Bhupathy et al. 2000) until a living specimen purchased in a Chinese wildlife market came into the possession of an American turtle collector in the early 2000s (Platt et al. 2005; W.P. McCord, pers. comm.). Shortly thereafter, field surveys “rediscovered” two remnant populations in the Dokhtawady and upper Chindwin Rivers (Platt et al. 2005; Kuchling et al. 2006). Intense ex- and in-situ recovery efforts were launched shortly thereafter and continue today (Kuchling & Tint Lwin 2004; Çilingir et al. 2017).

Neogene (Siwalik-aged) deposits from India and Pakistan have yielded many vertebrate fossils, of which most were named during the 19th century, including numerous geoemydid turtles. In contrast to many other faunal components from the Siwaliks, geoemydids have not undergone taxonomic revision for more than a century and most fossils have therefore been believed to correspond to recent taxa. In this study, we conduct a taxonomic revision of all previously described geoemydid material from the Siwalik-age. We propose that all specimens of ‘Clemmys’ from the Siwaliks of Punjab, Pakistan should be identified as Melanochelys sivalensis comb. nov.; that Melanochelys tricarinata var. sivalensis represents a valid species, for which we propose the replacement name Melanochelys tapani to avoid homonymy; that specimens originally identified as Batagur cautleyi and Pangshura flaviventer cannot be identified beyond the generic level; and that many fragmentary palatochelydians cannot be identified to any particular species or genus due to the lack of preserved diagnostic osteological characters. With a few exceptions, the Siwalik fauna mostly corresponds in its distribution to that of the recent fauna, indicating a certain amount of geographic stasis. However, as the stratigraphic provenance of most material is poor, it is not possible to discern meaningful temporal patterns.

Despite evidence from anatomy, behavior and genomics indicating that the sense of smell in turtles is important, our understanding of chemical communication in this group is still rudimentary. Our aim was to describe the microanatomy of mental glands (MGs) in a freshwater turtle,Mauremys leprosa(Geoemydidae), and to assess the chemical composition of their secretions with respect to variation among individuals and between sexes. MGs are paired sac-like organs on the gular region of the neck and are dimorphic in this species with males having fully functional holocrine glands while those of females appear non-secretory and vestigial. In adult males, the glandular epithelium of the inner portion of the gland provides exocytotic products as well as cellular debris into the lumen of the gland. The contents of the lumen can be secreted through the narrow duct portion of the gland ending in an orifice on the surface of the skin. Females have invaginated structures similar in general outline to male glands, but lack a glandular epithelium. Using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, we identified a total of 61 compounds in mental gland secretions, the most numerous being carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, alkanes, steroids and alcohols. The number of compounds per individual varied widely (mean (median) ± SD = 14.54 (13) ± 8.44; min = 3; max = 40), but only cholesterol was found in all samples. We found that the relative abundances of only six chemicals were different between the sexes, although males tended to have larger amounts of particular compounds. Although the lipid fraction of mental gland secretions is rich in chemical compounds, most occur in both sexes suggesting that they are metabolic byproducts with no role in chemical signaling. However, the relative amounts of some compounds tended to be higher in males, with significantly larger amounts of two carboxylic acids and one steroid, suggesting their putative involvement in chemical communication.

Nowadays, the living species of the terrapin genus Mauremys (Testudinoidea: Geoemydidae) are mostly found in eastern Asia, but three of them inhabit the Western Palearctic ecozone. In Italy, occurrences of living individuals of Mauremys are interpreted as records of alien species; however, a growing fossil record demonstrates that this genus has inhabited Italy as recently as the Late Pleistocene. We report on a new fossil specimen of Mauremys from the Upper Pliocene (Piacenzian) marginal-marine deposits of Tuscany (central Italy). This find, consisting of a partial plastron and a loose neural, represents the second authentic report of Mauremys from the Italian Pliocene, as well as the first one from the Piacenzian of Italy. Therefore, it is a significant fossil that fills a gap in the chronostratigraphic distribution of Italian fossil Mauremys, helping – together with the Lower Pliocene holotype of Mauremys portisi – to bridge the rich Miocene and Pleistocene segments of this record. Moreover, two unusual scars observed on the external surface of the studied plastron are here referred to the ichnospecies Thatchtelithichnus holmani. These traces represent one of the few records worldwide of this rarely identified ichnospecies, as well as its geologically youngest published occurrence. Hypotheses regarding the origin of the Thatchtelithichnus traces are reevaluated, and an origin as attachment scars of aquatic ectoparasites (possibly ticks, leeches, or flukes) is reaffirmed as probable in cases of traces occurring on the exterior of the plastral bones of turtles.

Assam Roofed Turtle, Pangshura sylhetensis is an endangered and least studied species endemic to India and Bangladesh. The genomic feature of P. sylhetensis mitogenome is still anonymous to the scientific community. The present study decodes the first complete mitochondrial genome of P. sylhetensis (16,568 bp) by using next-generation sequencing. This de novo assembly encodes 13 Protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region (CR). Most of the genes were encoded on the majority strand, except NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (nad6) and eight tRNAs. Most of the PCGs were started with an ATG initiation codon, except for Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5) with GTG. The study also found the typical cloverleaf secondary structure in most of the tRNA genes, except for serine (trnS1) with lack of conventional DHU arm and loop. Both, Bayesian and Maximum-likelihood topologies showed distinct clustering of all the Testudines species with their respective taxonomic ranks and congruent with the previous phylogenetic hypotheses (Pangshura and Batagur sister taxa). Nevertheless, the mitogenomic phylogeny with other amniotes corroborated the sister relationship of Testudines with Archosaurians (Birds and Crocodilians). Additionally, the mitochondrial Gene Order (GO) analysis indicated that, most of the Testudines species showed plesiomorphy with typical vertebrate GO.

A DNA reference library was generated, and a phylogenetic assessment of 11 turtle species (in nine genera and two families) from Uttarakhand was carried out. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences were generated, and the data were compared with published data available for a group from northeastern India to identify geographical signatures. The NJ approach was used to resolve the species taxonomy. A population-level comparative study indicated that most of the turtle species from the northern and northeastern parts of India have geographical genetic signatures. The results of this study can be used to delineate boundaries between or within species and populations. This study will be of use to law enforcement agencies in identifying species effectively in wildlife offence cases. Keywords: Turtle, Genetic study, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, Uttarakhand, Wildlife forensics and conservation

Recently, 2 studies almost simultaneously described the same previously unrecognized species of semiaquatic Southeast Asian snail-eating turtle (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Malayemys Lindholm 1931): Malayemys khoratensis Ihlow et al. 2016 and M. isan Sumontha et al. 2016. In order to determine the valid name for the species in question, we performed a comprehensive bibliographical analysis of both underlying publications. We come to the conclusion that M. khoratensis is the older available name that fulfills all requirements of being published for the purpose of nomenclature. The name was made available in full agreement with the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature in an electronic publication of the journal PLoS ONE on 6 April 2016. The earliest date a printed copy of Volume 8(1) of the journal Taprobanica (which contains the description of M. isan and constitutes the nomenclaturally relevant edition of this publication outlet) can be shown to have been in existence, v...

We describe here a new turtle from the early Eocene of Wutu, Shandong Province, China. This turtle with a full row of well-developed inframarginal scutes is assigned to the basalmost testudinoids while stem testudinoids were believed to disappear by the Palaeocene–Eocene boundary. This account shows that stem testudinoids crossed this boundary in their original range. The first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of stem and modern testudinoids performed here demonstrates that the stem testudinoids, previously placed in the family ‘Lindholmemydidae’, do not form a monophyletic group, and the two major clades of testudinoids (Emydidae and Geoemydidae+Testudinidae) split one from another well before the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary, prior to the Late Cretaceous.

Closely related species that co-occur in homogeneous environments often possess differing morphologies, which can result in niche divergence that minimizes interspecific competition. In the present study, we examined the relationship between ecomorphological characteristics and microhabitat selection of two Asian box turtle species, the Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii (Gray, 1862)) and the Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons Bourret, 1940), that have sympatric distributions in the rainforest of Hainan, People’s Republic of China. We found that C. mouhotii had a relatively flat shell and preferred microhabitats with rock crevices and steep slopes in the field, whereas C. galbinifrons had a domed shell and was restricted to microhabitats of deciduous leaves under bamboo growing on gentle slopes. We conclude that morphological divergence allows the two Cuora spp. to use different microhabitats and, thereby, to successfully co-occur.

Forty threatened and endangered Malaysian freshwater turtles representing four species in four genera of Geoemydidae (Cuora amboinensis, Heosemys grandis, Orlitia borneensis, Siebenrockiella crassicollis) destined for the Chinese food market were seized by authorities in Hong Kong in 2001 and transferred to the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. to be examined for metazoan parasites. The parasites of these turtles were removed, preserved, and tentatively identified. Specimens collected were subsequently transferred to the Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas AM Meteterakis striatura, Proatractis sp., Trichoskrjabinia malayana, O. linguiformes, and Parapleurogonius brevicecum from H. grandis; Orientatractis...

Harnoster, Florence, Svitin, Roman, Preez, Louis Du (2019): Serpinema cayennensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Camallanidae), a parasite of the freshwater turtle Rhinoclemmys punctularia Daudin (Reptilia: Testudines Geoemydidae) from French Guiana: morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other turtle-parasitising camallanids. Zootaxa 4679 (1): 181-193, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3466256, {"references":["Anderson, R. (1958) On the classification of the Filarioidea with special reference to the Filariidae and the Stephanofilariidae. Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France, 83 (1), 144-57.","Anderson, R.C. (2000) Order Spirurida-Suborder Camallanina, In: Nematode parasites of vertebrates 2nd ed. Their development and transmission. University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, pp. 349-356. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851994215.0349","Baker, M.R. (1983) Nematode parasites of the turtle Pelusios sinuatus, Pleurodira from southern Africa. 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VIII- Camallanus amazonicus n sp. parasite de Podocnemis expensa (SCHW). Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 35 (4), 723-732. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761940000400002","Rigby, M.C., Adamson, M.L. & Deardorff, T.L. (1998) Camallanus carangis Olsen, 1954 (Nematoda: Camallanidae) report from(?)French Polynesia and Hawai'I with a redescription of the species. Journal of Parasitology, 84 (1), 158-162. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284548","Rigby, M.C., Font, W.F. & Deardorff, T.L. (1997) Redescription of Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927 (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from Hawai'i. Journal of Parasitology, 83 (6), 116-1164. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284378","Rigby, M.C. & Rigby, E. (2013) Order Camallanida: Superfamilies Anguillicoloidea and Camallanoidea. In: Schmidt-Rhaesa, A (Ed.), Handbook of Zoology. Vol. 2. Gastrotricha, Cycloneuralia and Gnathifera. Nematoda. 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Ruavermis mikebargeri gen. et sp. n. infects the yellow-headed temple turtles Heosemys annandalii (Boulenger et Robinson) in the Mekong River Basin. It resembles Platt Roberts et Bullard, 2018 and Coeuritrema Mehra, 1933 by having the anterior to posterior anatomical sequence of a ventral sucker, external seminal vesicle, cirrus sac, anterior testis, ovary, transverse vitelline duct, and posterior testis. These genera are further similar by having the combination of an elongate/ovoid aspinous body, a ventral sucker at the level of the body constriction, an oesophagus that terminates in the anterior 1/5 of the body and that is ventral to the anterior nerve commissure, intestinal caeca that bifurcate in the anterior 1/3 of the body (not immediately anterior to the ventral sucker), a sinistral caecum that bends toward the midline at level of the cirrus and common genital pore, an external seminal vesicle that abuts the anterodextral margin of the cirrus sac, an oviduct that emerges from the dextral margin of the ovary, and an oviducal seminal receptacle that comprises the middle portion of the oviduct. These genera lack lateral oesophageal diverticulae and a median oesophageal diverticulum. The new genus is unique by having a papillate ventral body surface, an external seminal vesicle lateral to the cirrus sac, vasa efferentia that are ventral to the gonads, an oviduct that is convoluted, a Laurer's canal pore that is preovarian, a Laurer's canal that extends anterolaterad, and an excretory vesicle that is Y-shaped. The 28S rDNA phylogenetic analysis recovered the new species sister to Coeuritrema platti Roberts et Bullard, 2016, with that clade sister to Hapalorhynchus spp. and Platt spp. The new turtle blood fluke is the fourth from Vietnam, second from a Vietnam geomydid, and first from Heosemys Stejneger as well as the first endohelminth from the yellow-headed temple turtle.

The alpha taxonomy and paleogeography of testudinid and geoemydid turtles of the early Eocene (Wasatchian-Bridgerian) of western North America have received little attention since their original description. We reassess the alpha taxonomy of six species of the genera Echmatemys and Hadrianus. Additionally, we analyze new material, including juvenile specimens of Hadrianus corsoni, H. majusculus, E. haydeni and E. naomi. Proceeding taxonomic assessment we also examined a large sample of extant Gopherus agassizii to help us understand what characters were and were not consistent between individuals. This led us to use different characters than other recent assessments of fossil testudinoid morphology. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that the four nominal species of Echmatemys examined form a polyphyletic group, with E. lativertabralis as the outlier. In examining the global stratigraphic distribution of early Testudinidae we conclude that the oldest and most basal tortoises are from the western United States. From this we conclude that the Testudinidae likely evolved in North America from one of the geoemydid-like forms lumped in the genus Echmatemys, which have their lowest stratigraphic occurrence in the earliest Wasatchian North American land-mammal “age” (early Eocene, Ypresian). From here we suggest a bi-directional migration of testudinids to Europe and Asia took place. The Asian migration gave rise to the extant Manouria lineage and the European migration spawned all extant tortoises more derived than Manouria and Gopherus.

Baracktrema obamai n. gen., n. sp. infects the lung of geoemydid turtles (black marsh turtle, Siebenrockiella crassicollis [type host] and southeast Asian box turtle, Cuora amboinensis ) in the Malaysian states of Perak, Perlis, and Selangor. Baracktrema and Unicaecum Stunkard, 1925 are the only accepted turtle blood fluke genera having the combination of a single cecum, single testis, oviducal seminal receptacle, and uterine pouch. Baracktrema differs from Unicaecum by having a thread-like body approximately 30-50× longer than wide and post-cecal terminal genitalia. Unicaecum has a body approximately 8-12× longer than wide and terminal genitalia that are anterior to the distal end of the cecum. The new genus further differs from all other accepted turtle blood fluke genera by having a cecum that is highly convoluted for its entire length, a spindle-shaped ovary between the cirrus sac and testis, a uterine pouch that loops around the primary vitelline collecting duct, a Laurer's canal, and a dorsal common genital pore. Phylogenetic analysis of the D1-D3 domains of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S) revealed, with high nodal support and as predicted by morphology, that Baracktrema and Unicaecum share a recent common ancestor and form a clade sister to the freshwater turtle blood flukes of Spirorchis, paraphyletic Spirhapalum, and Vasotrema and that, collectively, these flukes were sister to all other tetrapod blood flukes (Hapalorhynchus + Griphobilharzia plus the marine turtle blood flukes and schistosomes). Pending a forthcoming emended morphological diagnosis of the family, the clade including Spirorchis spp., paraphyletic Spirhapalum, Vasotrema, Baracktrema, and Unicaecum is a likely placeholder for "Spirorchiidae Stunkard, 1921 " (type genus Spirorchis MacCallum, 1918 ; type species Spirorchis innominatus Ward, 1921 ). The present study comprises the 17th blood fluke known to infect geoemydid turtles and the first proposal of a new genus of turtle blood fluke in 21 yr.

A fossil identified as Orlitia borneensis was found from the river bottom of the Solo River in Sambungmacan, eastern Central Java, Indonesia. The sandy matrix attached to the specimen strongly suggests that it was eroded out from the Middle Pleistocene fluvial deposit on the river bank, as most of the assorted vertebrate fossils have been found from this area. Because two fragmentary fossils that were previously referred to this species from the Lower Pleistocene of Trinil lack diagnostic morphological characteristics, the specimen reported here is the first certain fossil record of the species from Java. The present findings suggest that O. borneensis had a wider distribution in the past, but the Java population would have become extinct by the end of the Middle Pleistocene.

To date, a number of species of Haemogregarina have been described from different turtle hosts, mainly based on the morphology of the developmental stages detected in the host erythrocytes. The diversity and overlapping morphological features in the old and recent descriptions has led to considerable complications in the taxonomy of Haemogregarina spp. In this study, different stages of maturity and developing gamonts of a putative new species of Haemogregarina were detected in erythrocytes of the Caspian turtle Mauremys caspica (Gmelin) (Geoemydidae) originating from a southern province in Iran. Although some of the morphological characteristics were consistent with Haemogregarina stepanowi Danilewsky, 1885, some new observations were made, particularly in the gamont stage. The phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA sequences revealed that the present isolate appears as basal to a large clade of Haemogregarina spp. with sequences available in the GenBank database. In accordance with the phylogenetic results, the present Iranian isolate showed a higher degree of interspecific divergence (up to 3.3%) compared to the data for the taxa available in the GenBank database. Thus, molecular data indicate that this isolate may represent a new species. However, further genetic analyses are needed as a complementary tool to the morphological characterisation in order to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Haemogregarina spp.

We describe a snail-eating turtle, Malayemys isan sp. nov., from the Mekong River Basin in northeastern Thailand (Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai and Udon Thani provinces) and the adjacent Vientiane area in Laos. The new species is readily distinguishable from M. subtrijuga by its two (vs. six to nine) nasal stripes, and from both M. subtrijuga and M. macrocephala by its thin, often discontinuous, infraorbital stripe that never reaches the loreal seam. This geographically-restricted new species is sold in several food markets throughout the species‟ distribution and is in urgent need of conservation measures.

The faunal assemblage of Monteviale (Vicenza, northern Italy) represents a rare condition among the earliest Oligocene assemblages of south-eastern Europe at the ‘Grande-Coupure’. The lignitic fossiliferous strata lie above explosive basaltic breccias produced by a volcanic complex raised within a lagoon where the Calcareniti di Castelgomberto Formation (earliest Oligocene in age) was deposited. Systematic revision of the vertebrate remains from Monteviale reveals the presence of 15 taxa belonging to ?Butidae, Palaeobatrachidae, Trionychidae, Geoemydidae, Diplocynodontinae, Dugongidae, ?Pantolesta, Chiroptera, Rhinocerotidae, Anthracotheriidae and Palaeochoeridae. The fossiliferous deposit of Monteviale probably originated in a coastal lagoon characterized by salinity fluctuations, from brackish to fresh water, the latter evidenced by the presence of palaeobatrachid larvae. The terrestrial vertebrate assemblage indicates a humid forest environment with an age close to the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, lowerm...

The Assam Roofed Turtle, Pangshura sylhetensis is an endangered and least studied species endemic to India and Bangladesh. The present study decodes the first complete mitochondrial genome of P. sylhetensis (16,568 bp) by using next-generation sequencing. The assembly encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region (CR). Most of the genes were encoded on the majority strand, except NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (nad6) and eight tRNAs. All PCGs start with an ATG initiation codon, except for Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5), which both start with GTG codon. The study also found the typical cloverleaf secondary structures in most of the predicted tRNA structures, except for serine (trnS1) which lacks of conventional DHU arm and loop. Both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic inference using 13 concatenated PCGs demonstrated strong support for the monophyly of all 52 Testudines species within their respective families and revealed Batagur trivittata as the nearest neighbor of P. sylhetensis. The mitogenomic phylogeny with other amniotes is congruent with previous research, supporting the sister relationship of Testudines and Archosaurians (birds and crocodilians). Additionally, the mitochondrial Gene Order (GO) analysis indicated plesiomorphy with the typical vertebrate GO in most of the Testudines species.

Systematic study of two freshwater turtle families (Geoemydidae and Trionychidae), from Northern and Southern India, was carried out through the sequence analysis of partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Sequences from 125 individuals from nine species were generated and analyzed. Forty one mitochondrial haplotypes were found and Maximum parsimony (MP) and neighbour-joining tree (NJ) produced similar, well-resolved trees. There were two major clades, differentiating freshwater hard and softshell turtles. The hard shell turtle, Hardella thurjii thurjii, Batugar kachuga and Kachuga tecta were observed as a paraphyletic group and soft shell turtles, Nillsonia gangetica and N. hurum were observed as a monophyletic group. Overall species divergence was 14.3%. The sequences of Lissemys punctata obtained from NCBI were analyzed along with that of present study. From the sequences generated in present study, a total of fourteen haplotypes was observed in L. punctata (n = 68) and thirty haplotypes combined with NCBI sequences. From a total of 108 sequences of L. punctata, AMOVA analysis detected significant divergence within the species among groups (79.39%) and overall Fst of 0.908. Four distinct populations were found according to the geographical location, from Northern, Southern and Central India and one more clade adjacent to Central India, which could be a distinct population of L. punctata vittata from Central Western India. This divergent clade in the present study contained individuals from Central Western India (Karnataka and Goa) and indicates that it may be a cryptic species. The present study provides a significant contribution regarding the confirmation of taxonomic identity of geographically isolated populations of the species, which might be useful for the conservation and management of the Indian freshwater turtle populations.

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of the MeCord's box turtle (Cuora mccordi) was firstly determined by shotgun sequencing. The total length of mitogenome is 16,688 bp, and con...