Descriptor: "Geoemydidae" - Searchworks@Jio Institute Digital Library Search Results

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407 results on '"Geoemydidae"'

1. Morphological and genetic evidence of hybridisation between <italic>Mauremys mutica</italic> (Cantor, 1842) and <italic>Mauremys leprosa</italic> (Schweigger, 1812) in northeast Spain.

Author: Escoriza, Daniel, Poch, Santiago, Jablonski, Daniel, Martinez-Silvestre, Albert, Soler, Joaquim, Donaire-Barroso, David, and Piris, Alberto
Subjects: *DNA analysis, *TURTLE populations, *NUCLEAR DNA, *MITOCHONDRIAL DNA, *INTRODUCED species
Abstract: Invasive species are one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss. During demographic monitoring of native turtle species in northeast Spain, we captured several alien species of semi-aquatic turtles, including Mauremys mutica. Among them, four individuals of this latter species showed external characteristics that were not fully consistent with the diagnosis of this species. These individuals showed a smaller postocular stripe and 2-3 lateral cervical lines and the typical plastral pattern observed in Mauremys leprosa. The analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicated that the maternal lineage was unequivocally M. mutica (pure or hybrid), but nuclear DNA revealed a heterozygote position at the C-mos gene, matching sequences for this gene in GenBank from both M. leprosa and M. mutica. These results highlight the negative impact of alien turtles, which can genetically contaminate vulnerable native turtle populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2024
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2. Blood recovery of wild Mekong snail-eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga Schlegel and Müller, 1845) in captivity from leech infestation

Author: Poramad Trivalairat, Krittiya Trivalairat, Awirut Tassamakorn, and Watchariya Purivirojkul
Subjects: Testudines, Geoemydidae, Hemocyte, Leukocyte, Blood cell count, Glossiphoniidae, Zoology, QL1-991
Abstract: Blood cell counts are valuable diagnostic tools for assessing the health status of chelonians, however, reference standards for healthy blood parameters in various turtle species are lacking. In this study, forty wild female Malayemys subtrijuga were captured from ponds in Kasetsart University, and transported to laboratory for recuperating in captivity. All turtles were infected with a single leech species, Placobdelloides siamensis, with a mean of 513.7 ± 164.9 individuals per turtle, and exhibited penetrating and lesion wounds from leech infestations on both their skin and shell. Subsequently, they were cleaned and treated to eliminate ecto- and endoparasites before the recuperation period began. The turtles did not exhibit significantly differences in weight, carapace length (CL), red blood cell count (RCC), and white blood cell count (WCC) with a mean of 654.2 ± 199.9 g, 15.0 ± 2.5 cm, 327,080 ± 70,156 cells/mm3, and 73,340 ± 15,859 cells/mm3, respectively, during the initial records (week 0). However, after being maintained for 17 weeks, their health significantly improved in term of their blood parameters (RCC and WCC) and weight, except CL which remained unchanged, with a mean of 491,470 ± 16,169 cells/mm3, 18,790 ± 1496 cells/mm3, and 738.9 ± 191.5 g, respectively. Therefore, the health status obtained in this study can be used as a reference for blood parameters, weight, and recuperation period for the treatment of ill wild M. subtrijuga in captivity or as part of conservation management programs for turtles.
Published: 2023
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3. Blood recovery of wild Mekong snail-eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga Schlegel and Müller, 1845) in captivity from leech infestation.

Author: Trivalairat, Poramad, Trivalairat, Krittiya, Tassamakorn, Awirut, and Purivirojkul, Watchariya
Abstract: Blood cell counts are valuable diagnostic tools for assessing the health status of chelonians, however, reference standards for healthy blood parameters in various turtle species are lacking. In this study, forty wild female Malayemys subtrijuga were captured from ponds in Kasetsart University, and transported to laboratory for recuperating in captivity. All turtles were infected with a single leech species, Placobdelloides siamensis , with a mean of 513.7 ± 164.9 individuals per turtle, and exhibited penetrating and lesion wounds from leech infestations on both their skin and shell. Subsequently, they were cleaned and treated to eliminate ecto- and endoparasites before the recuperation period began. The turtles did not exhibit significantly differences in weight, carapace length (CL), red blood cell count (RCC), and white blood cell count (WCC) with a mean of 654.2 ± 199.9 g, 15.0 ± 2.5 cm, 327,080 ± 70,156 cells/mm3, and 73,340 ± 15,859 cells/mm3, respectively, during the initial records (week 0). However, after being maintained for 17 weeks, their health significantly improved in term of their blood parameters (RCC and WCC) and weight, except CL which remained unchanged, with a mean of 491,470 ± 16,169 cells/mm3, 18,790 ± 1496 cells/mm3, and 738.9 ± 191.5 g, respectively. Therefore, the health status obtained in this study can be used as a reference for blood parameters, weight, and recuperation period for the treatment of ill wild M. subtrijuga in captivity or as part of conservation management programs for turtles. • Wild female Mekong snail-eating turtles displayed distinct size-related traits. • Blood counts in recuperating Mekong turtles aid health assessment. • Siamese shield leeches cause damage and symptoms in Mekong turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2023
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4. Molecular differentiation and conservation of the Indochinese box turtles Cuora galbinifrons, Cuora bourreti, and Cuora picturata.

Author: IHLOW, FLORA, SPITZWEG, CÄCILIA, VAMBERGER, MELITA, AUGUSTINE, LAUREN, HAGEN, CRIS, DAVIS, ADAM, LEPRINCE, BENJAMIN, WAGNER, PHILIPP, VAN, THONG PHAM, and FRITZ, UWE
Subjects: *SPECIES hybridization, *TURTLES, *TRANSFER RNA, *MICROSATELLITE repeats, *ENDANGERED species, *ECOLOGICAL zones, *HAPLOTYPES, *MOLECULAR phylogeny, *GENE flow
Abstract: The Asian box turtles of the Cuora galbinifrons complex (C. galbinifrons, C. bourreti, and C. picturata) rank among the most endangered chelonian species in the world. Despite several previous studies, the phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries of this complex remain a matter for dispute due to a shortage of field-collected samples for genetic validation, observed discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear markers, and reported intergradation zones combined with a strong tendency of hybridization in the genus. Here, we re-investigate the relationships and potential hybridization between the species of the C. galbinifrons complex based on the most comprehensive dataset to date consisting of 394 morphologically identified specimens (136 C. galbinifrons, 200 C. bourreti, 49 C. picturata, and nine individuals allegedly from Hainan). The turtles mainly came from assurance colonies as well as from zoological and private collections across the USA and Europe. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses of a concatenated mitochondrial dataset (COI and ND4 plus adjacent tRNA genes) yielded almost identical topologies, supporting three major clades corresponding to C. galbinifrons, C. bourreti, and C. picturata, respectively. In accordance with previous studies, C. bourreti represented the sister clade to C. galbinifrons and these two clades together were sister to C. picturata. Haplotype networks revealed pronounced mitochondrial divergences between the taxa. STRUCTURE and PCA analyses using 12 microsatellite loci also confirmed three distinct clusters that are in agreement with the recognized species. Only a few specimens with admixed ancestry (hybrids) or mismatched mitochondrial identity were revealed, suggesting extremely limited gene flow among the three species. However, this pattern could also reflect the separate captive management of the individual taxa and an underrepresentation of geographic contact zones in our sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2023

5. Epiplastral and geographic variation in Echmatemys, a geoemydid turtle from the Eocene of North America: A multi-tiered analysis of epiplastral shape complexity

Author: Smith, Heather F., Jager, Daniel, Hutchison, J. Howard, Adrian, Brent, and Townsend, K.E. Beth
Subjects: ArcGIS, geometric morphometrics, Uintan NALMA, turtle evolution, Geoemydidae
Abstract: Numerous geoemydid turtle fossils from the extinct genus Echmatemys have been recovered from the middle Eocene Uinta Formation, Uinta Basin, Utah over the past several decades. Here, we tested whether co-occurring Uintan species Echmatemys callopyge and E. uintensis can be reliably differentiated based on epiplastral morphology, and whether their geospatial distributions overlapped significantly. The geographic spatial and stratigraphic distributions of Uinta Basin E. callopyge and E. uintensis specimens were compared using ArcGIS and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The analysis revealed overlapping geographic distributions of these two species, and no significant differences in stratigraphic dispersal. This finding of extensive geospatial overlap between the two Uintan Echmatemys species highlights the need for accurate taxonomic identification, such as the gular scale morphology validated here. In addition, we sought to address a methodological question regarding the relative efficacy of data complexity in this context. Using epiplastra from three additional Eocene species of Echmatemys, we employed hierarchical analyses of increasing data complexity, from standard linear dimensions to 2D geometric morphometrics to 3D laser scans, to determine the degree to which data complexity contributes to taxonomic assessments within this genus. Uintan species E. callopyge and E. uintensis were found to differ significantly in epiplastral shape as captured by all three categories of data. These findings verify that these two co-occurring species can be differentiated consistently using the shape of the gular scale, and that the use of geometric morphometrics can improve identification of fragmentary specimens. Among the non-Uintan species, dorsal and ventral 2D landmark data reliably differentiated among species, but the linear dimensions were less useful.
Published: 2020

6. Monograph and natural history of the Ryukyu black breasted leaf turtle, Geoemyda japonica Fan, 1932.

Author: Rouot, Simon and Maurer, Maximilian
Abstract: This publication is an attempt to compile information on the species Geoemyda japonica and provide new data on the natural history of this turtle based on observations in the wild. Taxonomy, natural history, ecology, habitat, threats and husbandry of the species will be overviewed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2023

7. Superior continuous quantity discrimination in a freshwater turtle

Author: Feng-Chun Lin, Martin J. Whiting, Ming-Ying Hsieh, Pei-Jen Lee Shaner, and Si-Min Lin
Subjects: Geoemydidae, Learning ability, Mauremys sinensis, Reptiles, Weber’s law, Zoology, QL1-991
Abstract: Abstract 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.
Published: 2021
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8. Parasitism of Placobdelloides siamensis (Oka, 1917) (Glossiphoniidae: Hirudinea) in Snail-eating Turtles, Malayemys spp., and the effects of host and aquatic environmental factors

Author: Poramad Trivalairat, Krittiya Chiangkul, and Watchariya Purivirojkul
Subjects: Rhynchobdellida, Geoemydidae, Malayemys, aq, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2020
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9. The Scontrone turtles – A new insular testudinoid fauna from the late Miocene of the Central Mediterranean.

Author: Georgalis, Georgios L. and Delfino, Massimo
Subjects: *MIOCENE Epoch, *TURTLES, *TESTUDINIDAE, *MAMMALS, *FOSSILS
Abstract: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2021
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10. Superior continuous quantity discrimination in a freshwater turtle.

Author: Lin, Feng-Chun, Whiting, Martin J., Hsieh, Ming-Ying, Shaner, Pei-Jen Lee, and Lin, Si-Min
Subjects: *TURTLES, *ANIMAL training, *ANIMAL behavior, *WEBER-Fechner law, *FRESHWATER algae
Abstract: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2021
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11. The phylogenetic relationships of geoemydid turtles from the Eocene Messel Pit Quarry: a first assessment using methods for continuous and discrete characters.

Author: Ascarrunz, Eduardo, Claude, Julien, and Joyce, Walter G.
Subjects: EOCENE Epoch, TURTLES, MAXIMUM likelihood statistics, QUARRIES & quarrying, FOSSILS
Abstract: The geoemydid turtles of the Eocoene Messel Pit Quarry of Hesse, Germany, are part of a rich Western European fossil record of testudinoids. Originally referred to as “Ocadia” kehreri and “Ocadia” messeliana, their systematic relationships remain unclear. A previous study proposed that a majority of the Western European geoemydids, including the Messel geoemydids, are closely related to the Recent European representatives of the clade Mauremys. Another study hypothesised that the Western European geoemydid fauna is more phylogenetically diverse, and that the Messel geoemydids are closely related to the East Asian turtles Orlitia and Malayemys. Here we present the first quantitative analyses to date that investigate this question. We use continuous characters in the form of ratios to estimate the placement of the Messel geoemydids in a reference tree that was estimated from molecular data. We explore the placement error obtained from that data with maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, as well as linear parsimony in combination with discrete characters. We find good overall performance with Bayesian and parsimony analyses. Parsimony performs even better when we also incorporated discrete characters. Yet, we cannot pin down the position of the Messel geoemydids with high confidence. Depending on how intraspecific variation of the ratio characters is treated, parsimony favours a placement of the Messel fossils sister to Orlitia borneensis or sister to Geoemyda spengleri, with weak bootstrap support. The latter placement is suspect because G. spengleri is a phylogenetically problematic species with molecular and morphological data. There is even less support for placements within the Mauremys clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2021
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12. The phylogenetic relationships of geoemydid turtles from the Eocene Messel Pit Quarry: a first assessment using methods for continuous and discrete characters

Author: Eduardo Ascarrunz, Julien Claude, and Walter G. Joyce
Subjects: Messel, Phylogenetics, Morphology, Geoemydidae, Testudines, Medicine, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract: The geoemydid turtles of the Eocoene Messel Pit Quarry of Hesse, Germany, are part of a rich Western European fossil record of testudinoids. Originally referred to as “Ocadia” kehreri and “Ocadia” messeliana, their systematic relationships remain unclear. A previous study proposed that a majority of the Western European geoemydids, including the Messel geoemydids, are closely related to the Recent European representatives of the clade Mauremys. Another study hypothesised that the Western European geoemydid fauna is more phylogenetically diverse, and that the Messel geoemydids are closely related to the East Asian turtles Orlitia and Malayemys. Here we present the first quantitative analyses to date that investigate this question. We use continuous characters in the form of ratios to estimate the placement of the Messel geoemydids in a reference tree that was estimated from molecular data. We explore the placement error obtained from that data with maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, as well as linear parsimony in combination with discrete characters. We find good overall performance with Bayesian and parsimony analyses. Parsimony performs even better when we also incorporated discrete characters. Yet, we cannot pin down the position of the Messel geoemydids with high confidence. Depending on how intraspecific variation of the ratio characters is treated, parsimony favours a placement of the Messel fossils sister to Orlitia borneensis or sister to Geoemyda spengleri, with weak bootstrap support. The latter placement is suspect because G. spengleri is a phylogenetically problematic species with molecular and morphological data. There is even less support for placements within the Mauremys clade.
Published: 2021
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13. Pleistocene Fossil Turtles (Testudinoidea, Cryptodira) from the Talara Tar Seeps, Peru

Author: Anthony Deza, Edwin Cadena, and Jean-Noël Martinez
Subjects: testudines, geoemydidae, testudinidae, pleistocene, paleobiodiversity, Science, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2019
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14. The chemistry and histology of sexually dimorphic mental glands in the freshwater turtle, Mauremys leprosa

Author: Alejandro Ibáñez, Albert Martínez-Silvestre, Dagmara Podkowa, Aneta Woźniakiewicz, Michał Woźniakiewicz, and Maciej Pabijan
Subjects: Geoemydidae, Mental glands, GC-MS, Lipids, Secretions, Semiochemicals, Medicine, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2020
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15. Parasitism of Placobdelloides siamensis (Oka, 1917) (Glossiphoniidae: Hirudinea) in Snail-eating Turtles, Malayemys spp., and the effects of host and aquatic environmental factors.

Author: Trivalairat, Poramad, Chiangku, Krittiya, and Purivirojku, Watchariya
Subjects: GLOSSIPHONIIDAE, LEECHES, PARASITISM, AQUATIC ecology, SPECIES distribution
Abstract: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2020
Full Text: View/download PDF

16. The chemistry and histology of sexually dimorphic mental glands in the freshwater turtle, Mauremys leprosa.

Author: Ibáñez, Alejandro, Martínez-Silvestre, Albert, Podkowa, Dagmara, Woźniakiewicz, Aneta, Woźniakiewicz, Michał, and Pabijan, Maciej
Subjects: TURTLES, GLANDS, HISTOLOGY, LOGGERHEAD turtle, CARBOXYLIC acids, MASS spectrometry, LEUKAPHERESIS
Abstract: 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 aimwas 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2020
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17. Cyclemys dentata

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Cyclemys dentata, Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Cyclemys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Cyclemys dentata (Gray, 1831) — Native. Emys dentata Gray, 1831: 20, unnumbered errata page (between pp. 78 and 79), unnumbered pl. caption, pls. 8, 9. Lectotype: BMNH 1946.1.22.62 (formerly 1828.5.12.1), designated by Fritz et al. (1997: 188); paralectotypes (8): BMNH 1946.1.22.63, designated by Fritz et al. (1997: 188), OUM 8512– 13 and 8867, according to Nowak-Kemp & Fritz (2010: 11), and RMNH.RENA.6062–63, 6067, and 40474, according to Hoogmoed et al. (2010: 166); all of these specimens are listed as syntypes in Iverson (2022: 23); OUM 8512–13 are also syntypes of Cyclemys orbiculata (Nowak-Kemp & Fritz 2010: 11), and RMNH.RENA.6062 has been identified as C. enigmatica by Hoogmoed et al. (2010: 167). Type locality: “Bengal … Java” (= Bangladesh and Java, Indonesia); later restricted to “Java”, Indonesia by Smith (1931: 80). Asian Leaf Terrapin (Figure 9C) Singapore records. Cyclemys dentata —K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 151.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—van Dijk, 2000: 20.— Auliya, 2007: 46–47.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 174, 266 (Central Catchment Reserve; Western Catchment Area).—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 122, 159.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 122, 159.—Thomas & N. Baker, 2014: 176 (Lower Peirce Forest).—TTWG, 2021: 221. “ Cyclemys ” — P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. No publication exists recounting the first record of C. dentata from Singapore, but it first appeared in Lim & Chou’s (1990) checklist. The only published records are of an individual seen at WC in 2006, one observed at CCNR in 2007 (Lim et al. 2008), and one photographed in a stream at LPF on 1 June 2014 (Fig. 9C) (Thomas & Baker 2014). One was also seen at NSSF on 10 December 2016 (I.S. Law pers. comm.). However, LKCNHM has two specimens from Pulau Senang dated June 1951 and MNHN has a specimen that was collected at an unknown date. As C. dentata inhabits forest streams, which are absent from Pulau Senang, the two individuals were evidently released there. There is a possibility that specimen MNHN-RA-0.1309 may be the oldest record of C. dentata from Singapore given that all of MNHN Singapore specimens were collected prior to the early 1900s. Cyclemys dentata was listed as possibly extinct from Singapore by Auliya (2007), but the above records prove that it still thrives in Singapore. Occurrence. Restricted to a few locations in CCNR and WC. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Near-Threatened [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Pulau Senang: ZRC.2.80–ZRC.2.81 (Jun-1951). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): MNHN. Singapore localities. Central Catchment Reserve—Lower Peirce Forest—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Pulau Senang*—Western Catchment Area., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Fritz, U., Gaulke, M. & Lehr, E. (1997) Revision der s ¸ dostasiatischen dornschildkr ˆ ten-gattung Cyclemys Bell, 1834, mit beschreibung einer neuen art. Salamandra, 33, 183 - 212.","Hoogmoed, M. S., Gasso Miracle, M. E. & van den Hoek Ostende, L. W. (2010) Type specimens of recent and fossil Testudines and Crocodylia in the collections of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. Zoologische Mededelingen, 84 (8), 159 - 199.","Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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18. Heosemys grandis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Heosemys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Heosemys grandis, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Heosemys grandis (Gray, 1860) — Non-native; Established. Geoemyda grandis Gray, 1860:218. Syntypes (2): BMNH 1947.3.4.7(formerly 1860.8.28.1)and 1947.3.4.55 (formerly 1860.8.28.2), by original designation; BMNH 1947.3.4.56 (formerly 1861.6.1.7) may also be a syntype as it is listed as one in BMNH catalogue, according to Iverson (2022: 25). Type locality: “ Cambojia ” (= Cambodia). Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Figure 9D) Singapore records. Geoemyda grandis — Hanitsch, 1898: 9.—Ridley, 1899: 205. Geodyma [sic] grandis —F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18. Heosemys grandis —B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 72.— Auliya, 2007: 52–53.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26.—Ng T.H. & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 126 (Seletar Airbase).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—Fung & K.K.P. Lim, 2013: 120. (Upper Seletar Reservoir Park).—S.K. Tan & K.K.P. Lim, 2013b: 115 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—Khong & K.K.P. Lim, 2014: 205 (Springside Avenue).—I.S. Law, 2014c: 255 (Venus Drive [WNP]).—R. Subaraj, 2015: 52 (Project Western Boundary [= MBP]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 5 (Project Western Boundary [= MBP]).— Andersen et al., 2021: 3.—Mehta & K.K.P. Lim, 2021: 1 (Windsor Nature Park). Hieremys annandalii —Chow & K.K.P. Lim, 2017: 21 (Venus Drive [WNP]). Remarks. The native distribution of H. grandis covers Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Peninsular Malaysia (TTWG 2021). Early records of H. grandis in Singapore (Hanitsch 1898: 19; Ridley 1899) were misidentified and later revealed to be Siebenrockiella crassicollis and Notochelys platynota by Flower (1899). The N. platynota specimen was from Seletar, but the S. crassicollis specimen was from Myanmar or Penang, Peninsular Malaysia (Hanitsch 1912b). Lim (1984) commented that H. grandis is found in Singapore, but did not reference or mention any records. As follows, the first actual account of H. grandis in Singapore comes from an individual found at Seletar Airbase on 11 September 2005 (Ng & Lim 2010). The next record is from 26 September 2010 of an individual observed in NSSF (Tan & Lim 2013b), and another was seen at NSSF on 20 July 2011 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) demonstrating that H. grandis infiltrated CNR. Apparently, H. grandis has established breeding populations as evident by a hatchling observed on 5 May 2012 at USRP (Fung & Lim 2013) and a juvenile caught at Springside Avenue on 17 July 2014 (Khong & Lim 2014). Heosemys grandis has also been recorded at Mandai (R. Subaraj 2015; S. Subaraj 2015), Jurong Lake Gardens in January 2017 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.), Kranji Reservoir Park in April 2021 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) (Fig. 9D), and multiple times at WNP on 13 December 2010, 7 August 2014, 18 December 2016, and 19 May 2021 (Law 2014c; Chow & Lim 2017; Mehta & Lim 2021) revealing that it is widespread throughout Singapore. Given H. grandis’ widespread distribution in Singapore and the presence of young individuals, we declare it as established in Singapore. Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon. Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable. Conservation priority. None, non-native species. IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Kranji Reservoir Park—Jurong Lake Gardens—Mandai Bird Park—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Seletar Airbase—Springside Avenue—Upper Seletar Reservoir Park—Windsor Nature Park., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 77-78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Lim, F. L. K. (1984) Reptile and amphibian encounters. In: Wee, Y. - C. (Ed.), Nature in an Urban Singapore. Proceedings of the Seminar on Nature in an Urban Singapore. Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 17 - 19.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. (2013 b) Call of the masked swamp frog. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013, 81.","Law, I. S. (2014 c) Giant Asian pond terrapin at Venus Drive forest. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 255.","Andersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., Silva, R. da, Pfau, B. & Conde, D. A. (2021) Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in Brief, 34, 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. dib. 2020.106708","Lim, K. K. P. (2017) Blue-necked keelback at Upper Seletar. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2017, 53.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Fung, T. K. & Lim, K. K. P. (2013) Giant Asian pond terrapin hatchling at Upper Seletar. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013, 120.","Khong, S. & Lim, K. K. P. (2014) Giant Asian pond terrapin at Springside estate. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 205.","Chow, L. S. Y. & Lim, K. K. P. (2017) A probable yellow-headed temple terrapin at Venus Drive. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2017, 21.","Mehta, D. & Lim, K. K. P. (2021) Biodiversity Record: Repeat sightings of a giant Asian pond terrapin over a decade. Nature in Singapore, 14 (e 2021081), 1 - 2."]}
Published: 2023
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19. Orlitia borneensis Gray 1873

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Orlitia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Orlitia borneensis, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Orlitia borneensis Gray, 1873 — Non-native; Introduced. Malayan Giant Terrapin Singapore records. Orlitia borneensis —T.H. Ng & K.K. Lim, 2010: 123 (Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—M.A.H. Chua, 2014a: 45 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Upper Seletar Reservoir).— I.S. Law, Sankar & I.T. Law, 2014: 274 (Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Botanic Gardens; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 6, 7 (Night Safari; Singapore Zoo).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99 (Singapore Botanic Gardens).—W.L.J. Teo, 2022: 1 (Sime Road Forest). “ Orlitia ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Orlitia borneensis is the largest freshwater turtle in S.E. Asia and is native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo (TTWG 2021). Given its requirement for large rivers, O. borneensis cannot be native to Singapore since Singapore never had large rivers. As O. borneensis is trafficked for food, individuals were likely obtained as pets and subsequently released. Orlitia borneensis has been observed at LR, MR, Night Safari, SBG, Singapore Zoo, USR, and even NSSF (Ng & Lim 2010; Chua 2014a; Law et al. 2014; S. Subaraj 2015; Teo, 2022). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Central Catchment: ZRC.2.4731 (1993). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","Chua, M. A. H. (2014 a) Malaysian giant terrapin at Nee Soon swamp-forest. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 45.","Law, I. S., Sankar, A. & Law, I. T. (2014) Malaysian giant terrapin at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 274."]}
Published: 2023
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20. Batagur borneoensis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Batagur borneoensis, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Batagur, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Batagur borneoensis (Schlegel & M̧ller, 1844)— Native; Indeterminate. Emys borneoensis Schlegel & M̧ller 1845: 30. Syntypes (2): RMNH.RENA.3296 and 6210, by original designation; originally three syntypes, with the third apparently lost, “[t]he third specimen probably was exchanged with one of the large European museums” (Hoogmoed et al. 2010: 166). Type locality: “Borneo”, East Malaysia or Indonesia. Painted Terrapin (Figures 8H & 9A) Singapore records. Callagur picta — Hanitsch, 1899: 12 (“Seranggong Road Police Station” [Serangoon).—Ridley, 1899: 205.—Hanitsch, 1908: 39.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14. Callagur borneensis — de Rooij, 1915: 289–291. Callagur borneoensis —N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 168.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 168. Batagur borneoensis —T.H. Ng & Lim, 2010: 119, 121, 122 (Upper Seletar Reservoir).—M.E.Y. Low & Pocklington, 2019: 326. “ Callagur ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Batagur borneoensis is considered extirpated from Singapore (Ng & Lim 2010). However, some works do not list Singapore as part of its range (Auliya 2007; TTWG 2021). Hanitsch (1899) first reported on the occurrence of B. borneoensis in Singapore in the form of a live individual captured on 3 January 1899 near the Serangoon Road Police Station. He expressed that the Raffles Museum had two preserved specimens, but that his specimen represented the first authentic record. The LKCNHM currently has four additional specimens, all of which the localities are unknown and only two that are dated. In addition, there is one specimen at NHMUK, also with no data. Later, Hanitsch (1908) described B. borneoensis as the largest and rarest tortoise in Singapore. Based on the only dated museum record, it appears that 16 December 1961 was the last documented year of B. borneoensis in Singapore. Three more recent records of B. borneoensis were of released individuals seen at UPR on 15 June 2002 (Ng & Lim 2010), Circuit Road on 18 August 2013 (ACRES pers. comm.), and Punggol Beach on 9 September 2021 (Fig 9A). As B. borneoensis inhabits tidal areas of medium to large rivers and nests on beaches (Dunson & Moll 1980), it is likely that it has been extirpated from Singapore given the damming of rivers to create reservoirs and the loss of beaches due to development land reclamation. In performing species distribution modelling, Tan et al. (2022) identified SBWR as suitable habitat for B. borneoensis. Occurrence. Only known from one record and one museum specimen predating 1899. Likely extirpated. Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated. Conservation priority. Immediate priority, if rediscovered. IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1913.7.25.1 (no date); ZRC.2.122– ZRC.2.123 (16-Dec-1961), ZRC.2.175– ZRC.2.176AB (no date), ZRC.2.229 (no date). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Serangoon Road*—Upper Seletar Reservoir*., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 74-75, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Hoogmoed, M. S., Gasso Miracle, M. E. & van den Hoek Ostende, L. W. (2010) Type specimens of recent and fossil Testudines and Crocodylia in the collections of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. Zoologische Mededelingen, 84 (8), 159 - 199.","Hanitsch, R. (1899) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1898. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 7 - 16.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp.","Dunson, W. A. & Moll, E. O. (1980) Osmoregulation in sea water of hatchling emydid turtles, Callagur borneoensis, from a Malaysian sea beach. Journal of Herpetology, 14 (1), 31 - 36. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1563872"]}
Published: 2023
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21. Notochelys platynota

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Notochelys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Notochelys platynota, Taxonomy
Abstract: Notochelys platynota (Gray, 1834) — Native. Emys platynota Gray, 1834a: 54. Holotype: BMNH 1947.3.4.6 (possibly the specimen illustrated in Gray [1835: pl. 57], according to Iverson, 2022: 29), by original designation. Type locality: “[h]ab. in Indiâ Orientali” (= East Indies, i.e., Southeast Asia); later restricted to “ Sumatra ”, Indonesia by Gray (1835: pl. 57). Malayan Flatshell Terrapin (Figure 9F) Singapore records. Cyclemys platynota — Gray, 1855: 43.— Gray, 1870: 21.— Boulenger, 1889a: 130–131.— Flower, 1896: 858.— Hanitsch, 1898: 8.— Flower, 1899: 612 (Botanic Gardens; “Selitah” [= Seletar].—Ridley, 1899: 186, 2015.—Hanitsch, 1908: 39 (Impounding [MacRitchie] Reservoir [MR]).— Boulenger, 1912: 18–19.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14. Geoemyda grandis (non-Gray, 1860)— Hanitsch, 1898: 9.—Ridley, 1899: 205. Notochelys platynota — Gray, 1863b: 177.— &Gcedil;nther, 1864: xi, 17.— Gray, 1873: 20.—Theobald, 1876: 10, 227.— de Rooij, 1915: 304–305.—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Pasir Laba Military Exercise Area; Seletar Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 130, 151.— Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.P. Lim, 1994d: 14 (MacRitchie Golf Course [MR]; Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (Macritchie Golf Course [MR]).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 392 (Lornie Forest; Lower Peirce West Forest [LPF]; Nee Soon East [NSSF]; Nee Soon Range [NSSF]).— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 451.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 40.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 82.—van Dijk, 2000: 21.—Iskandar, 2000: 125.— Auliya, 2007: 62–63.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 175, 266.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 124, 159.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26, 65.— Das, 2010: 172.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 124, 159.—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 41.—TTWG, 2021: 241. “ Notochelys ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Historically, there appears to be some confusion regarding the occurrence of N. platynota in Singapore as also noticed by Flower (1899b) who noted “its occurrence seems rather strange”.After Wallace collected five specimens (likely from BTNR or DFNP) first reported by Gray (1855) and Boulenger (1889a), no additional specimens were reported until 1897 when one was caught at a lake in SBG and Hanitsch obtained three from Seletar (Flower 1899b). One of these specimens may be ZMA.RENA.12966 deposited at RMNH by Hanitsch. Hanitsch (1898) listed N. platynota in the Raffles Museum’s catalogue, but did not specify the number of specimens. The Seletar records led Ridley (1899) to believe that N. platynota was common there, and Hanitsch (1908) also appeared to consider N. platynota common as he casually stated that it is found at Seletar, MR, and “elsewhere”. Whether Wallace found N. platynota common remains unknown. Regardless, N. platynota is rare today. Eighty-two years elapsed before N. platynota was rediscovered and reported again (Table 2). Lim (1990a) reported a large adult at SR from 4 May 1990, one from Pasir Laba Military Exercise Area from early 1990, and two hatchlings in a stream from the same area. After this, N. platynota was reported a few more times, but the last published record was from Teo & Rajathurai (1997) who listed six records that included the four sightings from Lim (1994d) and Subaraj et al. (1995). The last reported record is of the individual illustrated in Baker & Lim (2012) which was photographed at NSSF on September 2006 (Fig. 9F) (N. Baker pers. comm.). Occurrence. Restricted to a few locations in CNR and WC. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Vulnerable [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1855.5.3.3–5 (no date), BMNH 1855.5.3.6–7 (no date), ZRC.2.3085 (1990), ZRC.2.171 (no date); Bukit Timah : ZRC.2.110 (1909), ZRC.2.114 (25-Apr-1910); Seletar Reservoir : ZRC.2.2601 (04-May-1990), ZRC.2.115 (no date). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): RMNH. Singapore localities. Bukit Timah (not specified)—Lornie Forest—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir— MacRitchie Reservoir—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Pasir Laba—Seletar Reservoir—Singapore Botanic Gardens*. Genus Siebenrockiella Lindholm, 1929 (1 species) Siebenrockiella Lindholm, 1929: 280–281 (type species: Emys crassicollis Gray, 1830, by original designation; gender feminine; replacement name for Bellia Gray, 1869: 197 [junior homonym of Bellia A. Milne-Edwards, 1848 [Crustacea], and Bellia Bate, 1851 [Crustacea]])., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 80-81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Gray, J. E. (1855) Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Trustees [of the British Museum], London, pp. 1 - 79, 42 pls.","Gray, J. E. (1870) Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). With Figures of the Skulls of 36 Genera. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, [i] + 120 pp.","Boulenger, G. A. (1889 a) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New edition. Taylor and Francis, London, x + 311 pp.","Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Boulenger, G. A. (1912) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore, Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia, Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 294 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10813","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1863 b) Observations on the box tortoises, with the descriptions of three new Asiatic species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1863 (2), 173 - 179.","Gnther, A. C. L. G. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, xxvii + 452 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5012","Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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22. Mauremys sinensis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Mauremys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Mauremys sinensis, Taxonomy
Abstract: Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1834) — Non-native; Introduced. Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle Singapore records. Ocadia sinensis —Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 53, 64, 143, 160, 203. Mauremys sinensis —T.H. Ng & K.K. Lim, 2010: 123 (Bedok Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker, 2015a: 25 (Bedok Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—Trageser, 2015: 148 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—Wijedasa, 2015: 180. Remarks. Mauremys sinensis is native to southern China, Hainan, Taiwan, and Vietnam (TTWG 2021). Between the 1900s and 2000s, M. sinensis was imported into Singapore as pets (Ng & Lim 2010). Since then, individuals of M. sinensis have been observed in numerous localities, including ECP, MR, SBG (Ng 2009; Wijedasa 2015), BR, MR, USR (Ng & Lim 2010), and SBWR (Baker 2015a; Trageser 2015). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Upper Seletar Reservoir: ZRC.2.6674 (12-Dec-2007). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 247-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Baker, N. (2015 a) Chinese striped-neck terrapin at Sungei Buloh. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2015, 25."]}
Published: 2023
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23. Cyclemys Bell 1834

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Cyclemys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Cyclemys Bell, 1834 (1 species) Cyclemys Bell, 1834: 17 (type species: Cyclemys orbiculata Bell, 1834 [= Emys dentata Gray, 1831], by monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 76, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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24. Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E.Y., and Lim, Kelvin K.P.
Subjects: Pipidae, Ichthyophiidae, Reptilia, Ranidae, Xenopeltidae, Megophryidae, Pythonidae, Agamidae, Emydidae, Lamprophiidae, Amphibia, Chelidae, Homalopsidae, Viperidae, Elapidae, Eublepharidae, Chordata, Gekkonidae, Rhacophoridae, Chelydridae, Colubridae, Kinosternidae, Biodiversity, Pelodryadidae, Platysternidae, Chamaeleonidae, Geoemydidae, Typhlopidae, Dermochelyidae, Testudinidae, Anura, Lacertidae, Varanidae, Eleutherodactylidae, Crocodylia, Trionychidae, Cylindrophiidae, Squamata, Carettochelyidae, Animalia, Gymnophiona, Natricidae, Taxonomy, Microhylidae, Podocnemididae, Dicroglossidae, Pareatidae, Bufonidae, Cheloniidae, Iguanidae, Crocodylidae, Testudines, Acrochordidae, Dactyloidae, Scincidae
Abstract: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E.Y., Lim, Kelvin K.P. (2023): Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution. Zootaxa 5287 (1): 1-378, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1
Published: 2023

25. Cuora amboinensis Riche

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Cuora amboinensis, Reptilia, Testudines, Cuora, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Cuora amboinensis Riche in Daudin, 1801— Native. Testudo amboinensis Riche in Daudin, 1801b: 309–313.Type material: None designated; holotype deposited in MNHN, according to Bourret (1941: 149), but Bour (in Rummler & Fritz 1991: 36) reported it was lost at sea en route to MNHN before Daudin ever saw it. Type locality: “à Amboine” (= Kota Ambon), Moluccas, Indonesia. Malayan Box Terrapin (Figure 9B) Singapore records. Cistudo Amboinensis — Gray, 1844: 30–31.— Gray, 1855: 42. Cistudo amboinensis — Cantor, 1847a: 611.— Cantor, 1847c: 1067. Cuora amboinensis — &Gcedil;nther, 1864: 12–13.— Gray, 1873: 21.—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 25.—F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18.—K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (Mandai Road).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988a: 28 (MacRitchie).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988c: 77 (Bukit Kalang Service Reservoir [SRF]).—K. Lim, 1989b: 21 (Upper Peirce Reservoir).—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.K.P Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1991b: 5 (Sentosa).—K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1991c: 3 (Lower Peirce Reservoir).—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 34.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 129, 151.— K.K. P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (East Coast Park; Jalan Bahar; Lower Peirce Forest; MacRitchie Reservoir; Mandai Road; Serangoon Sludge Works [LH]; Sime Road Forest).—P.K.L. Ng, 1992a: 142.—P.K.L. Ng, 1992b: 142.—Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim, 1993b: 3 (Neo Tiew Lane [LKC]).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.K.P. Lim & Subaraj, 1994: 5 (Venus Drive [WNP]).—R. Subaraj, 1994: 14 (Lornie Track; MacRitchie Golf Trail [MNF]; MacRitchie Reservoir Park; Seletar North Forest [USNF]; Thomson Ridge Trail [TRF]).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (Kent Ridge Park; MacRitchie Reservoir; Mandai Track 15).— K. Lim, 1995: 19 (MacRitchie Nature Trail [TRF]; Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Serapong Golf Course [Sentosa]).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 387, 392.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 443.— Chan-ard et al., 1999: 39.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 63.—van Dijk, 2000: 20.—Touch et al., 2000: 56.— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—T.Y. Goh & O’Riordan, 2007: 98.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 166.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 122, 159 (Botanic Gardens; Pulau Ubin).—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 19, 21, 25, 53, 54, 64, 115, 143, 160, 165, 167, 193, 203.—E.K. Chua, 2010: 102 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Das, 2010: 168.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 122 (Pulau Tekong).—M.A.H. Chua, 2011: 281 (Semakau Landfill [PS]).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 479.—H.T.W. & K.K.P. Lim, 2011: 196.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 122, 159.— M.F.C. Ng, 2012: 68, 146.— Duong et al., 2014: 739.—R. Subaraj, 2015: 13, 38 (Night Safari; Stephen Lee Woods [= RPN]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 3, 4, 7 (Night Safari; Stephen Lee Woods [= RPN]; Upper Seletar Peninsula [= USNF]).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99 (Botanic Gardens).—Wijedasa, 2015: 180.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 176 (Pulau Tekong).—Vogrinc & McCleary, 2016: 121–122 (Pulau Ubin).— Aini et al., 2019: 399.—H.C. Ho et al., 2019: 124 (Clementi Forest).—Riyanto & Mumpuni, 2019: 18.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2019: 135 (Kent Ridge Park; National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus).— Leo et al., 2020: 257.— Andersen et al., 2021: 3. Cyclemys amboinensis — Boulenger, 1889a: 133–134.— Flower, 1896: 859.— Hanitsch, 1898: 8.— Flower, 1899: 614.—Ridley, 1899: 186, 205 (“ground on which is now the Tanglin Market”).—Hanitsch, 1908: 39.— Boulenger, 1912: 21–22.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14.— de Rooij, 1915: 302–304. Cuora amboinensis kamaroma — Auliya, 2007: 44–45.—Ernest et al., 2016: 144–156.—TTWG, 2021: 208. Remarks. Singapore’s population of C. amboinensis consists of wild and released individuals (Teo & Rajathurai 1997). This species is a prime example of a traded species perennially released into the wild in observance of Vesak Day as it was commonly sold in pet shops during the 1990s (Ng & Lim 2010) and placed back on the list of legal pets (Ng 2009). Gray (1844) first reported C. amboinensis for Singapore from a stuffed specimen in the NHMUK collections. Until Hanitsch (1898) listed it in the Raffles Museum’s catalogue, C. amboinensis was known only from this one specimen. Ridley (1899) noted that C. amboinensis was previously considered common in Singapore, but that its numbers were declining. Yet, Hanitsch (1908) described it as common in swamps and paddy fields, a supposition echoed decades later by Johnson (1964). Besides the previous accounts depicting how common C. amboinensis was, the first reported field observation of it was made 24 years after Johnson’s (1964) account (Table 2), on 13 February 1988 when a released individual, signified by red paint on its shell, was spotted at Mandai Road (Lim 1988a). The first field observation of a wild individual was of one seen behind a house around MacRitchie in April 1988 (Lim & Lim 1988a). Certainly, research is needed to verify the extent of wild and released individuals of C. amboinensis. Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Common. Singapore conservation status. Near-Threatened. Conservation priority. Moderate. Population is a mixture of native and released individuals. IUCN conservation status. Endangered [2020]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1902.3.26.3–5 (no date), ZRC.2.128 (no date); Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.2.2585 (30-Mar-1990); Semakau Landfill [PS] : ZRC.2.7025 (19-Feb-2011). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): CAS, SMNS. Singapore localities. Clementi Forest—East Coast Park—Jalan Bahar—Kent Ridge Park—Lim Chu Kang—Lornie Forest—Lorong Halus—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir—MacRitchie—MacRitchie North Forest—MacRitchie Reservoir Park—Mandai Road—Mandai Track 15—National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Night Safari—Pulau Semakau—Pulau Tekong—Pulau Ubin—Rainforest Park North—Sentosa—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Tanglin—Thomson Ridge Forest—Upper Peirce Reservoir—Upper Seletar North Forest—Windsor Nature Park., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 75-76, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Bourret, R. (1941) Les Tortues de l'Indochine. Notes Institut Oceanographique de l'Indochine, 38, 1 - 235.","Gray, J. E. (1844) Catalogue of Tortoises, Crocodilians, and Amphisbaenians in the Collection of the British Museum. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, vii + 80 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1855) Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Trustees [of the British Museum], London, pp. 1 - 79, 42 pls.","Cantor, T. E. (1847 a) Catalogue of reptiles inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and islands, collected or observed by Theodore Cantor, Esq., M. D. Bengal Medical Service. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 16 (Part 2, No. 180), 607 - 656, pl. 20. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5057","Cantor, T. E. (1847 c) Catalogue of reptiles inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and islands, collected or observed by Theodore Cantor, Esq., M. D. Bengal Medical Service. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 16 (Part 2, No. 183), 1026 - 1078. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5057","Gnther, A. C. L. G. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, xxvii + 452 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5012","Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, F. L. K. (1984) Reptile and amphibian encounters. In: Wee, Y. - C. (Ed.), Nature in an Urban Singapore. Proceedings of the Seminar on Nature in an Urban Singapore. Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 17 - 19.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 c) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (4), 74 - 77.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Lim, K. K. P. (1993 b) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 6 (3 - 4), 1 - 4.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subaraj, R. (1994) Recent records (1994) - herptiles. The Pangolin, 7 (1 - 4), 5.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","Goh, T. Y. & O'Riordan, R. M. (2007) Are tortoises and freshwater turtles still traded illegally as pets in Singapore? Oryx, 41 (1), 97 - 100. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 003060530700155 X","Chua, E. K. (2010) Wetlands in a City: The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Simply Green, Singapore, 176 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Chua, M. A. (2011) The herpetofauna and mammals of Semakau Landfill: A Project Semakau checklist. Nature in Singapore, 4, 277 - 287.","Lim, K. K. P., Leong, T. M. & Lim, F. L. K. (2011) The king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor) in Singapore (Reptilia: Squamata: Elapidae). Nature in Singapore, 4, 143 - 156.","Duong, L. D., Ngo, C. D. & Nguyen, T. Q. (2014) New records of turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Herpetology Notes, 7, 737 - 744.","Lim, K. K. P., Chua, M. A. H. & Lim, N. T. - L. (2016) Freshwater fishes, terrestrial herpetofauna and mammals of Pulau Tekong, Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 9, 165 - 198.","Aini, Y., Kusrini, M. D. & Prasetyo, L. B. (2019) Pemodelan spasial kesesuaian habitat Kura Kura Ambon (Cuora amboinensis) di Taman Nasional Rawa Aopa Watumohai. In: Prosiding Seminar Nasional Konservasi dan Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan dan Satwa Liar (' Riset Sebagai Fondasi Konservasi dan Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan dan Satwa Liar'), Bogor, 27 November (2018). Pusat Penelitian Biologi, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, s. n., pp. 398 - 406.","Leo, S., Suherman, M., Permatasari, A., Suganda, D. & Zulamri, W. N. (2020) Herpetofauna diversity in Zamrud National Park, Indonesia: baseline checklist for a Sumatra peat swamp forest ecosystem. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 14 (2), 250 - 263.","Andersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., Silva, R. da, Pfau, B. & Conde, D. A. (2021) Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in Brief, 34, 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. dib. 2020.106708","Boulenger, G. A. (1889 a) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New edition. Taylor and Francis, London, x + 311 pp.","Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Boulenger, G. A. (1912) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore, Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia, Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 294 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10813","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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26. Notochelys Gray 1863

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Notochelys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Notochelys Gray, 1863 (1 species) Notochelys Gray, 1863: 177 (type species: Emys platynota Gray, 1834, by monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 80, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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27. Mauremys reevesii

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Mauremys reevesii, Animalia, Mauremys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Mauremys reevesii (Gray, 1831) — Non-native; Introduced. Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle Singapore records. Mauremys reevesii —T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 125. Remarks. Native to China and North and South Korea (TTWG 2021), four specimens of M. reevesii introduced from China were collected from Bukit Mandai on 12 May 1914 (ZRC.2.207 & ZRC.2.208) and 5 December 1914 (CAS 8616 & CAS 8617). Initially, the specimens at LKCNHM were misidentified as Malayemys subtrijuga (K.K.P. Lim unpub. data). Ng & Lim (2010) mentioned that individuals of M. reevesii are occasionally released for Vesak Day. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Bukit Mandai: ZRC.2.207– ZRC.2.208 (12-May-1914). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Bukit Mandai: CAS., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 247, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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28. Cuora Gray 1856

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Cuora, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Cuora Gray, 1856 (1 species) Cuora Gray, 1856a: 198 (type species: Testudo amboinensis Riche in Daudin, 1801, by subsequent designation by Stejneger, 1907: 503; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 75, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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29. Heosemys Stejneger 1902

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Heosemys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Heosemys Stejneger, 1902 (2 species) Heosemys Stejneger, 1902b: 238 (type species: Emys spinosa Gray, 1830 [in 1830–1832], by original designation; gender masculine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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30. Siebenrockiella crassicollis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Siebenrockiella, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Siebenrockiella crassicollis (Gray, 1831) — Non-native; Established. Emys Crassicollis Gray, 1830: 8. Syntypes (4): OUM 8479–81 and BMNH 1947.3.5.36, according to Iverson (2000: 32); BMNH 1947.3.5.36 erroneously listed as holotype by King & Burke (1989: 50) and Iverson (1992: 166) based on BMNH catalogue. Type locality: “ Sumatra ”, Indonesia. Black Marsh Terrapin (Figure 9G) Singapore records. Siebenrockiella crassicollis —D.S. Johnson, 1964: 48.—K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988c: 77 (Botanic Gardens).—K. Lim, 1989b: 21 (Upper Peirce Reservoir).—K. Lim, 1989h: 65 (Sime Road Forest).—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Seletar Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 68.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 128, 151.— K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (Lower Peirce Forest; Mandai Road; Old Upper Thomson Road; Sime Road Forest).—Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir Park).—K.K.P. Lim, 1993b: 3 (Choa Chu Kang Road; Old Upper Thomson Road).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1993: 20.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—R. Subaraj, 1994: 12 (Lornie Track [LF]; MacRitchie Reservoir Northwest [SRF]; MacRitchie Reservoir Park; Rifle Range Pipeline; Seletar Reservoir; Sime Road Forest; Thomson Ridge Trail [TRF]; Ulu Sembawang Forest).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (MacRitchie Reservoir; Mandai Track 15).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 393.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 454.— Chan-ard et al., 1999: 40.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 92.—van Dijk, 2000: 22.—Iskandar, 2000: 130.—Touch et al., 2000: 57.—B.P.L. Goh et al., 2002: 144.— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Auliya, 2007: 66–67.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 124, 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 21, 26, 53, 54, 115, 203.— Das, 2010: 173.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 123.— D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 124, 165.—M.A.H. Chua, 2014e: 197. (Mandai Lake Road).—Thomas & M.A.H. Chua, 2014: 30, 31 (Pulau Ubin).—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 42.—Riyanto & Mumpuni, 2019: 18.—van den Burg et al., 2020: 2.—TTWG, 2021: 206. “ Siebenrockiella ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Regarded as non-native to Singapore (Baker & Lim 2012), Ng & Lim (2010) stated that the possibility exists that S. crassicollis may be native given its distribution from southern Myanmar, east to Vietnam, and south to Peninsular Malaysia, eastern Sumatra, western Borneo, and Java (TTWG 2021). Although TTWG (2021) lists S. crassicollis as native to Singapore and occurring throughout Peninsular Malaysia, its distribution in the latter is restricted to the northern states (Ng & Lim 2010). Evidence against S. crassicollis nativeness to Singapore includes its wide-ranging distribution within Singapore (Baker & Lim 2012; refer to localities below), no individuals being reported prior to Johnson (1964), and that it is commonly released in reverence of Vesak Day (Teo & Rajathurai 1997), indicative by individuals being found with red paint (Lim 1990a). As mentioned, S. crassicollis was first reported in Singapore by Johnson (1964), who said “[it] can be found in the catchment area, and sometimes elsewhere, but it is not very common”. As Johnson (1964) did not report on any specimens or direct field records, the first published observation of S. crassicollis came 24 years later (Table 2) of one seen moving in a pond at MR on 4 April 1988 (Lim 1988a). In addition to the published locality records listed above, S. crassicollis was also seen at JLG on 9 January 2017 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) and KM on 30 July 2014 (T.H. Ng pers. comm.). Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon. Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable. Conservation priority. None, non-native species. IUCN conservation status. Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.2530 (11-Mar-1990); Mandai Road : ZRC.2.7108– ZRC.2.7110 (08-Sep-2015); Seletar Reservoir : ZRC.2.2602 (04-May-1990); Sentosa Island : ZRC.2.6327– ZRC.2.6330 (May-1978). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Choa Chu Kang Road—Jurong Lake Gardens—Kranji Marshes—Lornie Forest—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir Park—MacRitchie Reservoir Park—Mandai Road—Mandai Lake Road—Mandai Track 15—Old Upper Thomson Road—Pulau Ubin—Rifle Range Pipeline—Seletar Reservoir—Sentosa—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve— Thomson Ridge Forest—Ulu Sembawang Forest—Upper Peirce Reservoir. Family Trionychidae Gray, 1825 (4 species) Trionicidae Gray, 1825: 212 (type genus Trionyx Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1809). Genus Amyda Schweigger in Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 (1 species) Amyda Schweigger in Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1809: 365 (type species: Amyda javanica Schweigger in Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1809 [= subjective synonym of Testudo cartilaginea Boddaert 1770], by original monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 81-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["King, F. W. & Burke, R. L. (1989) Crocodilian, Tuatara, and Turtle Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Association of Systematics Collections, Washington, D. C., 216 pp.","Iverson, J. B. (1992) A Revised Checklist with Distribution Maps of the Turtles of the World. Privately printed, Richmond, Indiana, 363 pp.","Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 c) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (4), 74 - 77.","Lim, K. (1989 h) Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. The Pangolin, 2 (4), 63 - 66.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Lim, K. K. P. (1993 b) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 6 (3 - 4), 1 - 4.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Goh, B. P. L., Sodhi, N. S., Li, D., Ho, S. H. & Ng, P. K. L. (2002) A Guide to Urban Creatures. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Chua, M. A. H. (2014 e) Black marsh terrapin at Mandai. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 197.","Burg, M. P. van den, Belleghem, S. M. van & Jesus Villanueva, C. N. de (2020) The continuing march of Common Green Iguanas: arrival on mainland Asia. Journal for Nature Conservation, 57 (125888), 1 - 6. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jnc. 2020.125888","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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31. Batagur affinis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Batagur affinis, Biodiversity, Chordata, Batagur, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Batagur affinis (Cantor, 1847) — Non-native; Introduced. Southern River Terrapin Singapore records. Batagur baska —D.S. Johnson, 1964: 48 (Botanic Gardens).—K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (Seletar Reservoir).— K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 68.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 151.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 441.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 55.— Auliya, 2007: 40–41.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 18, 26, 53, 63, 64, 115, 143, 160, 165, 193, 203.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35. Batagur affinis — Das, 2010: 167.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 121.—W.C. Tan et al., 2022: 2. “ Batagur ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Batagur affinis affinis —TTWG, 2021: 192. Batagur affinis edwardmolli —Salleh & Esa, 2022: 1. Remarks. Previously known as B. baska, Praschag et al. (2008) reidentified populations from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra as B. affinis. Some authors have considered B. affinis native to Singapore and extirpated (Auliya 2007; Ng & Lim 2010; TTWG 2021), but no historical records of “native” individuals exist. Instead, there are only two records of B. affinis from Singapore, one of an individual released at SBG (Johnson 1964), which is ZRC.2.214 and was collected on 12 September 1961, and a large individual that was seen on 9 January 1988 at USRP (Lim 1988). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Botanic Gardens: ZRC.2.214 (12-Sep-1961). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Genus Mauremys Gray, 1870 (2 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 247, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Auliya, M. (2007) An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, s. n., 99 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1870) Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). With Figures of the Skulls of 36 Genera. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, [i] + 120 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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32. Batagur Gray 1856

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Batagur, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Batagur Gray, 1856 (1 species) Batagur Gray, 1856: 35 (type species: Emys baska Gray, 1830, by subsequent designation by Smith [1931: 134])., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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33. Heosemys spinosa

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Heosemys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Heosemys spinosa, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831) — Native. Emys spinosae Gray, 1830 [in 1830–1832]: pl. 77, figs. 1, 2, caption. Syntypes (2): BMNH 1862.8.28.1 (specimen “c” in Boulenger [1889: 138]), according to Bourret (1941: 159), and OUM 8517, according to Nowak-Kemp & Fritz (2010: 12). Type locality: “ Penang ”, Peninsular Malaysia. Spiny Terrapin (Figure 9E; Rifle Range Forest) Singapore records. Geoemyda spinosa — Gray, 1855: 16–17.— &Gcedil;nther, 1864: 10.— Gray, 1873: 25.— Boulenger, 1889a: 137.— Flower, 1896: 859 (Bukit Timah [BTNR]).— Hanitsch, 1898: 9.— Flower, 1899: 614.— Ridley, 1899: 185, 205 (Bukit Timah [BTNR]).—Hanitsch, 1908: 39.— Boulenger, 1912: 17.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14.— de Rooij, 1915: 300–301.—D.H. Murphy, 1973: 59.—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988c: 77 (Sime Road Forest). Geodyma [sic] spinosa —F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18. Heosemys (Geoemyda) spinosa —K. Lim, 1989e: 39 (Upper Peirce Reservoir). Heosemys spinosa —K. Lim, 1989h: 65 (Sime Road Forest).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1991: 5 (Upper Peirce Reservoir Park).—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 127, 151.—K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (MacRitchie Reservoir; Rifle Range Road).—Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir Park).—E.K. Chua, 1993: 25 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.K.P. Lim & Subaraj, 1994: 5 (Rifle Range Road).—R. Subaraj, 1994: 12 (Rifle Range Road Pipeline; Sime Road Forest; Thomson Ridge Trail [TRF]; Upper Peirce West Forest).—K.K.P. Lim, 1994b: 225, 231.—L.M. Chou, 1995: 146.—K. Lim, 1995: 18 (Gangsa Track [GF]; MacRitchie Nature Trail [TRF]; Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Seletar North Peninsula [USNF]; Ulu Sembawang Forest).—K.K.P. Lim, 1996: 50.— Metcalfe, 1996: 106.—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 392 (Bukit Timah [BTNR]; Lower Peirce [LPF]; MacRitchie; Mandai; Nee Soon [NSSF]; Upper Seletar).— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 448.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 40.— B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 73.—van Dijk, 2000: 21.—Iskandar, 2000: 115.— Malkmus et al., 2002: 398.—T.M. Leong, 2005b: 44.— Auliya, 2007: 54–55.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 174, 266.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 123, 159.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 18, 21, 26.— Das, 2010: 171.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—T.M. Leong & Gan, 2011: 26.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 479.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 123, 159.—L.K. Wang et al., 2012: 168.—Spinks et al., 2012: 812.—M.A.H. Chua, 2014c: 142 (MacRitchie Reservoir).— Flotow, 2014: 250 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim, 2014a: 73 (Sime Track [SRF]).—Platt et al., 2014: 257.—H.H. Tan, 2014f: 181 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Sime Forest [SRF]).—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 37.—E.K. Chua, 2015: 87.—W. Wong, 2017: 51.—M.E.Y. Low et al., 2019: frontispiece.—R.C.H, Teo & Thomas, 2019: 148, 154, 179 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).— Andersen et al., 2021: 3.—M.E.Y. Low et al., 2021: 38.—Roomaaker, 2021: 161.—TTWG, 2021: 227.— Jusoh et al., 2022: 44.— M.L. Kwak & A. Ng, 2022: 929. Remarks. An illustration of a juvenile H. spinosa with “ Singapour ” written in the upper left corner was deposited at MNHN by Duvaucel (Low et al. 2019; Tham et al. 2019; Low et al. 2021; Roomaaker 2021). As Duvaucel accompanied Raffles on the first natural history collecting expedition of Singapore in 1819, the painting is presumed to have originated that year (Low 2019). Thus, this painting represents the second earliest record for any herpetofauna from Singapore after C. porosus (see Pocklington 2019). The first two published records of H. spinosa from Singapore were from specimens deposited at NHMUK by Wallace that were reported in Gray (1855, 1873). No localities were provided, but given that Wallace spent most of his time around BTNR and DFNP, the turtles were most likely taken at one of these two locations. Shortly thereafter, Flower (1896) recounted two individuals he found in streams at BTNR in January 1896, and that Ridley has also seen several at BTNR. Ridley (1899) and Hanitsch (1908) expressed that H. spinosa was quite common at BTNR. Heosemys spinosa was only known from these accounts and from BTNR until Lim & Lim (1988c) reported one from SRF 80 years later on 16 October 1988 (Table 2). However, there are two specimens at LKCNHM collected in 1923. Afterwards, H. spinosa was reported from a variety of different locations (see records above). Most records of H. spinosa are concentrated between 1988 and 1997, and there are four records from 2014 (Chua 2014c; Flotow 2014; Lim 2014a; Tan 2014f). Previously a haven for H. spinosa (Ridley 1899), only two individuals were recorded during the BTNR comprehensive surveys, opportunely caught in small mammal traps (Teo & Thomas 2019). Thus, H. spinosa is now considered rare (Baker & Lim 2012) and endangered (NParks 2021). Occurrence. Restricted to CNR and surrounding Nature Parks and forests. Uncommon. Singapore conservation status. Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1855.5.3.1–2 (no date), BMNH 1896.6.25.1 (no date), BMNH 1898.2.4.6 (no date), ZRC.2.52 (24-Dec-1903), ZRC.2.164 (1923); Kranji : ZRC.2.156 (1923); Rifle Range Road : ZRC.2.3367 (24-Jun-1992); Sime Road Forest: ZRC.2.6142 (19- Aug-2005); Upper Peirce Reservoir Park: ZRC.2.7401 (01-Mar-2019). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): CAS, RMNH. Singapore localities. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve—Gangsa Forest—Kranji*—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir Park—MacRitchie—MacRitchie Reservoir—Mandai (not specified)—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Rifle Range Forest—Rifle Range Road—Rifle Range Road Pipeline—Sime Road Forest— Thomson Ridge Forest—Ulu Sembawang Forest—Upper Peirce Reservoir Park—Upper Peirce West Forest—Upper Seletar (not specified)—Upper Seletar North Forest., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 78-79, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Bourret, R. (1941) Les Tortues de l'Indochine. Notes Institut Oceanographique de l'Indochine, 38, 1 - 235.","Gray, J. E. (1855) Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Trustees [of the British Museum], London, pp. 1 - 79, 42 pls.","Gnther, A. C. L. G. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, xxvii + 452 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5012","Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","Boulenger, G. A. (1889 a) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New edition. Taylor and Francis, London, x + 311 pp.","Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Boulenger, G. A. (1912) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore, Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia, Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 294 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10813","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 c) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (4), 74 - 77.","Lim, F. L. K. (1984) Reptile and amphibian encounters. In: Wee, Y. - C. (Ed.), Nature in an Urban Singapore. Proceedings of the Seminar on Nature in an Urban Singapore. Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 17 - 19.","Lim, K. (1989 e) Reptiles - Snakes & Lizards. The Pangolin, 2 (3), 38 - 39.","Lim, K. (1989 h) Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. The Pangolin, 2 (4), 63 - 66.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1991) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 4 (2), 4 - 5.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Chua, E. K. (1993) Nature in Singapore, Ours to Protect. The Nature Society, Singapore, 132 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subaraj, R. (1994) Recent records (1994) - herptiles. The Pangolin, 7 (1 - 4), 5.","Lim, K. K. P. (1994 b) Reptiles. In: Ng, P. K. L. & Wee, Y. C. (Eds.), The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore. Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 213 - 227.","Chou, L. M. (1995) Amphibians and reptiles. In: Chin, S. C., Corlett, R. T., Wee, Y. C. & Geh, S. Y. (Eds.), Rain Forest in the City: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Singapore. Gardens' Bulletin, Singapore, Supplement 3, pp. 145 - 150.","Lim, K. K. P. (1996) Hop, slither and glide. In: Lum, S. & Sharp, I. (Eds.), A View from the Summit: The Story of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and National Parks Board, Singapore, pp. 50 - 51.","Metcalfe, D. (1996) A researcher's forest idyll. In: Lum, S. & Sharp, I. (Eds.), A View from the Summit: The Story of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and National Parks Board, Singapore, pp. 106 - 107.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. 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P. (2014 a) Dead juvenile spiny terrapin at Sime forest. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 73.","Andersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., Silva, R. da, Pfau, B. & Conde, D. A. (2021) Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in Brief, 34, 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. dib. 2020.106708","Low, M. E. Y., Lim, K. K. P. & Ng, P. K. L. (2021) The first Singapore Biodiversity Expedition: the legacy of Pierre-Medard Diard and Alfred Duvaucel. In: Dorai, F. & Low, M. E. Y. (Eds.), Diard and Duvaucel: French Natural History Drawings of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Embassy of France in Singapore and National Library Board, Singapore, pp. 36 - 51.","Jusoh, W. F. A., Chua, M. A. H., Bakker, P. A. J., Kamminga, P., Weiler, D., Rookmaaker, K. & Low, M. E. Y. (2022) A historical specimen of the Fishing Cat, Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833) (Carnivora, Felidae) from Singapore in the zoological collection of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 98 (1), 43 - 53. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zse. 98.76940","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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34. Geoemydidae Theobald 1868

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Family Geoemydidae Theobald, 1868 (7 species) Geoemydidae Theobald, 1868b: 9 (type genus Geoemyda Gray, 1834)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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35. A new testudinoid turtle from the middle to late Eocene of Vietnam

Author: Rafaella C. Garbin, Madelaine Böhme, and Walter G. Joyce
Subjects: Paleontology, Geoemydidae, Polymorphism, Intraspecific variation, Testudinoidea, Medicine, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract: Background Testudinoidea is a major clade of turtles that has colonized different ecological environments across the globe throughout the Tertiary. Aquatic testudinoids have a particularly rich fossil record in the Tertiary of the northern hemisphere, but little is known about the evolutionary history of the group, as the phylogenetic relationships of most fossils have not been established with confidence, in part due to high levels of homoplasy and polymorphism. Methods We here focus on describing a sample of 30 testudinoid shells, belonging to a single population that was collected from lake sediments from the middle to late Eocene (35–39 Ma) Na Duong Formation in Vietnam. The phylogenetic placement of this new material is investigated by integrating it and 11 other species of putative geoemydids from the Eocene and Oligocene to a recently published matrix of geoemydid turtles, that embraces the use of polymorphic characters, and then running a total-evidence analysis. Results The new material is highly polymorphic, but can be inferred with confidence to be a new taxon, Banhxeochelys trani gen. et sp. nov. It shares morphological similarities with other southeastern Asian testudinoids, Isometremys lacuna and Guangdongemys pingi, but is placed phylogenetically at the base of Pan-Testuguria when fossils are included in the analysis, or as a stem geoemydid when other fossils are deactivated from the matrix. The vast majority of other putative fossil geoemydids are placed at the base of Pan-Testuguria as well. Discussion The phylogenetic placement of fossil testudinoids used in the analysis is discussed individually and each species compared to Banhxeochelys trani gen. et sp. nov. The high levels of polymorphism observed in the new taxon is discussed in terms of ontogenetic and random variability. This is the first time that a large sample of fossil testudinoids has its morphological variation described in detail.
Published: 2019
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36. DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA SP. IN INDOCHINESE BOX TURTLES (CUORA BOURRETI).

Author: DiGeronimo, Peter M., Hansen, Colin, Latney, La'Toya V., Adamovicz, Laura A., and Allender, Matthew C.
Abstract: Mycoplasma species are important pathogens of captive and free-ranging chelonians. Bourret's box turtle (Cuora bourreti) is a critically endangered species of Indochinese box turtle in the family Geoemydidae. Four privately owned wild-caught Bourret's box turtles were presented for clinical evaluation for anorexia and lethargy following shipment from a reptile wholesaler 3 wk prior. Choanal-cloacal swabs of two of the turtles were positive for Mycoplasma sp. by polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer was 99% homologous to an unclassified Mycoplasma sp. previously documented in free-ranging and captive North American species of the family Emydidae. The potential of Mycoplasma sp. to induce disease in Bourret's box turtles is unknown. Global trade in live reptiles is believed to have facilitated this potential expansion of host range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2019
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37. A new testudinoid turtle from the middle to late Eocene of Vietnam.

Author: Garbin, Rafaella C., Böhme, Madelaine, and Joyce, Walter G.
Subjects: EOCENE Epoch, LAKE sediments, TURTLES, FOSSILS, HOMOPLASY
Abstract: Background: Testudinoidea is a major clade of turtles that has colonized different ecological environments across the globe throughout the Tertiary. Aquatic testudinoids have a particularly rich fossil record in the Tertiary of the northern hemisphere, but little is known about the evolutionary history of the group, as the phylogenetic relationships of most fossils have not been established with confidence, in part due to high levels of homoplasy and polymorphism. Methods: We here focus on describing a sample of 30 testudinoid shells, belonging to a single population that was collected from lake sediments from the middle to late Eocene (35-39 Ma) Na Duong Formation in Vietnam. The phylogenetic placement of this new material is investigated by integrating it and 11 other species of putative geoemydids from the Eocene and Oligocene to a recently published matrix of geoemydid turtles, that embraces the use of polymorphic characters, and then running a total-evidence analysis. Results: The new material is highly polymorphic, but can be inferred with confidence to be a new taxon, Banhxeochelys trani gen. et sp. nov. It shares morphological similarities with other southeastern Asian testudinoids, Isometremys lacuna and Guangdongemys pingi, but is placed phylogenetically at the base of Pan-Testuguria when fossils are included in the analysis, or as a stem geoemydid when other fossils are deactivated from the matrix. The vast majority of other putative fossil geoemydids are placed at the base of Pan-Testuguria as well. Discussion: The phylogenetic placement of fossil testudinoids used in the analysis is discussed individually and each species compared to Banhxeochelys trani gen. et sp. nov. The high levels of polymorphism observed in the new taxon is discussed in terms of ontogenetic and random variability. This is the first time that a large sample of fossil testudinoids has its morphological variation described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2019
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38. First fossil turtle from Hainan Island, China

Author: Lu Li, Jinyou Mo, Zhaoxue Huang, and Haiyan Tong
Subjects: mauremys sinensis, geoemydidae, cave deposits, middle pleistocene, Science
Abstract: Although Hainan Island is one of the richest regions for living turtle species in China, no fossil turtle had hitherto been discovered there. In this paper we report on a partial turtle shell from the Middle Pleistocene of Xinchong Cave, Changjing, Hainan, which is the fi rst fossil turtle from that island. The specimen is identifi ed as belonging to an extant geoemydid, Mauremys sinensis. This discovery indicates that the species, as a component of the extant turtle fauna in Hainan, had already reached the island by the Middle Pleistocene.
Published: 2015
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39. Habitat Use and Activity Patterns of a Terrestrial Turtle (Rhinoclemmys rubida perixantha) in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest.

Author: Butterfield, Taggert G., Scoville, Alison, García, Andrés, and Beck, Daniel D.
Subjects: *WOOD turtle, *TROPICAL forests, *HABITATS, *HERBACEOUS plants, *COARSE woody debris, *ANIMAL behavior
Abstract: We report the results of a field study on Mexican Spotted Wood Turtles (Rhinoclemmys rubida perixantha) in a seasonally dry tropical forest of coastal Jalisco, Mexico. We used field surveys, trail spools, and radio telemetry to investigate activity patterns, estimate home range size with three different techniques, and develop a generalized linear model to identify features associated with habitats used by R. r. perixantha. We found that turtles were most frequently active at midday, with peak activity occurring from 0900 to 1500 h. During the dry season (January–mid-June), R. r. perixantha showed reduced activity (fewer movements and shorter travel distances) compared to the wet season (late June–September). Home range size did not differ among the three methods we compared, and all estimates revealed that R. r. perixantha have small home ranges, with males having larger home ranges than females. Sites used by turtles were positively associated with leaf litter and woody debris, herbaceous plants, vegetation, vine-like shrubs, and sloped terrain, and negatively associated with bare ground. Our findings can be used to strengthen future conservation efforts for R. r. perixantha, as well as other terrestrial geoemydids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2018
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40. Record of Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tecta (Reptilia: Testudines: Geoemydidae) from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Author: Ramesh Prasad Sapkota, Ashmita Shrestha, and Kumar Paudel
Subjects: 0106 biological sciences, biology, 010607 zoology, Wildlife, Zoology, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, biology.organism_classification, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Geoemydidae, law.invention, Pangshura tecta, Geography, law, Animal Science and Zoology, Turtle (robot), Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Nature and Landscape Conservation
Abstract: This paper provides a detailed account of Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tecta (Gray, 1831) recorded alive from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.
Published: 2021

41. New findings of Pleistocene fossil turtles (Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae and Chelydridae) from Santa Elena Province, Ecuador

Author: Edwin A. Cadena, Juan Abella, and Maria D. Gregori
Subjects: Kinosternidae, Chelydridae, Testudines, Geoemydidae, Paleobiodiversity, Medicine, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2017
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42. Population structure and body size of the Sahara blue-eyed pond turtle Mauremys leprosa saharica, from an isolated pond in the Lower Draa Basin, southern Morocco

Author: Mohamed Naimi, Safaa Bendami, Mohammed Znari, and Soumia Loulida
Subjects: Mauremys leprosa, education.field_of_study, biology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Population, Zoology, General Medicine, 010501 environmental sciences, biology.organism_classification, 01 natural sciences, Pollution, Geoemydidae, law.invention, Sexual dimorphism, Habitat, Productivity (ecology), law, Environmental Chemistry, Carapace, Turtle (robot), education, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2021

43. A Sample of Endohelminths from Four Species of Malaysian Freshwater Turtles (Geoemydidae) Confiscated in 2001 by Authorities in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

Author: Neely, Wesley J., Freeman, Jennifer M., Greiner, Ellis C., and Dronen, Norman O.
Subjects: TURTLES as food, PARASITOLOGY, ENDANGERED species, FOOD industry
Abstract: 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 A&M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A. for further examination. Fourteen species of endohelminths (9 nematodes, 5 trematodes) and 1 leech were recovered. Thirteen new host records ( Orientodiscus linguiformes from C. amboinensis; Meteterakis striatura, Proatractis sp., Trichoskrjabinia malayana, O. linguiformes, and Parapleurogonius brevicecum from H. grandis; Orientatractis sp., Telorchis clemmydis, and Orientodiscus fernandoi from Orlitia borneensis; Orientodiscus buckleyi, O. linguiformes, T. clemmydis, and Placobdelloides stellapapillosa from S. crassicollis) are reported, and expanded variability in T. clemmydis from 4 individual turtles is recorded. This project offered a rare opportunity to record parasites from threatened and endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2017
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44. Shell shape and genetic variability of Southeast Asian Box Turtles (Cuora amboinensis) from Borneo and Sumatra.

Author: PROTIVA, TOMÁŠ, GUNALEN, DANNY, BAUEROVÁ, ANNA, PALUPČÍKOVÁ, KLÁRA, SOMEROVÁ, BARBORA, FRÝDLOVÁ, PETRA, JANČÚCHOVÁ-LÁSKOVÁ, JITKA, ŠIMKOVÁ, OLGA, FRYNTA, DANIEL, and REHÁK, IVAN
Abstract: Distinguishing between species is an essential aspect of animal research and conservation. For turtles, morphology and genetic analysis are potentially valuable tools for identification. Shell shape is an important component of phenotypic variation in turtles and can be easily described and quantified by geometric morphometrics (GM). Here, we focus on carapace and plastron shape discrimination of immature Southeast Asian box turtles (Cuora amboinensis) from two of the Greater Sunda Islands with partially distinct faunas. GM analysis identified significant differences in carapace and plastron shape between turtles from Borneo and Sumatra. The discrimination success amounted to 90% and 83.7% for carapace and plastron, respectively. The correlations of carapace and plastron shapes were high for Sumatra (0.846), and less pronounced for Borneo (0.560). We detected no differences in the ontogenetic trajectories of the shell shape between the two islands. We conclude that shell shape can be used for reliable geographic assignment of C. amboinensis of unknown origin. In addition to the comparison of shell shapes, turtles from Borneo, Sumatra, Seram, and turtles of unknown origin from two Czech zoos were studied genetically. Analysis of the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene confirmed the distinctness of turtles from Borneo and Sumatra, with p-distance 2.68 - 4.09% sequence difference. Moreover, we discovered considerable genetic difference in Seram turtles of previously unknown haplogroup (p-distance 6.00 - 8.68%) revealing the need for the revision of the whole species complex of Cuora amboinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2016
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45. A new elevational and locality record of the Assam Leaf Turtle, Cyclemys gemeli (Geoemydidae), from the Darjeeling Hills, in the Central Himalayan Biogeographic Province

Author: Avantika Thapa, Bheem Dutt Joshi, Mukesh Thakur, Lalit Kumar Sharma, Pujan Kumar Pradhan, and Kailash Chandra
Subjects: Geography, biology, Leaf Turtle, Ecology, General Medicine, biology.organism_classification, Geoemydidae, Cyclemys gemeli
Published: 2021

46. Threats from wildlife trade: The importance of genetic data in safeguarding the endangered Four-eyed Turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata)

Author: Ha Thuy Duong, Hanh Thi Ngo, Ha Van Hoang, Timothy E.M. McCormack, Hanh Duc Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler, Minh Duc Le, and Truong Q. Nguyen
Subjects: 0106 biological sciences, Reptilia, lcsh:QH1-199.5, Endangered species, Safeguarding, lcsh:General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, law.invention, 03 medical and health sciences, Sacalia, Lao PDR, law, lcsh:QH540-549.5, Animalia, Turtle (robot), Chordata, Sacalia quadriocellata, 030304 developmental biology, Nature and Landscape Conservation, 0303 health sciences, biology, conservation, Genetic data, biology.organism_classification, wildlife trade, Geoemydidae, conservation cytochrome b Lao PDR Sacalia quadriocellata Vietnam wildlife trade, Fishery, Wildlife trade, Geography, cytochrome b, Vietnam, Testudines, lcsh:Ecology
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2020

47. The genetic diversity of blood parasites within the freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis in Tunisia reveals coinfection with Haemogregarina spp

Author: Rahma Attia El Hili, Mohamed Sghaïer Achouri, Olivier Verneau, 25588427 - Verneau, Olivier, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (University of Tunis), Université de Tunis El Manar (UTM), Université de Tunis, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditérranéens (CEFREM), and Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Subjects: Haemogregarina, Mauremys leprosa, Tunisia, Emys orbicularis, Zoology, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, 030308 mycology & parasitology, 03 medical and health sciences, medicine, 030304 developmental biology, [SDV.GEN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Genetics, 0303 health sciences, Genetic diversity, General Veterinary, biology, 18S rRNA gene, Host (biology), General Medicine, biology.organism_classification, medicine.disease, Infectious Diseases, Insect Science, Coinfection, Parasitology
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2020

48. Host-parasite association of Placobdella costata (Glossiphoniidae: Hirudinea) and Mauremys leprosa (Geoemydidae: Testudinoidea) in aquatic ecosystems of Morocco

Author: Abdelaziz Abbad, El Hassan El Mouden, and El-Mustapha Laghzaoui
Subjects: Male, Mauremys leprosa, Zoology, Fresh Water, Context (language use), Ectoparasitic Infestations, medicine.disease_cause, Geoemydidae, Host-Parasite Interactions, law.invention, law, Leeches, Infestation, Prevalence, medicine, Animals, Turtle (robot), General Veterinary, biology, Emys orbicularis, General Medicine, biology.organism_classification, Turtles, Testudinoidea, Morocco, Infectious Diseases, Insect Science, Glossiphoniidae, Female, Parasitology
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2020

49. First record of Western Black-Bridged Leaf Turtle, Cyclemys atripons Iverson & McCord, 1997 (Testudines, Geoemydidae), in Vietnam

Author: Ha Van Hoang, Jack Carney, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Timothy E.M. McCormack, Ngon Quang Lam, and Thang Tai Nguyen
Subjects: Cyclemys atripons, Ecology, biology, Leaf Turtle, QH301-705.5, Freshwater turtle, Zoology, Indochina, biology.organism_classification, Geoemydidae, Phu Qu, Biology (General), Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Mekong delta
Abstract: 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.
Published: 2020

50. The turtles from ‘Gilmore’s slab’: evolution and diversity of the extinct turtleEchmatemys(Testudines: Testudinoidea: Geoemydidae) from the central United States

Author: Evangelos Vlachos
Subjects: 0106 biological sciences, 010506 paleontology, biology, Echmatemys, Paleontology, Zoology, biology.organism_classification, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Geoemydidae, law.invention, Testudinoidea, Geography, law, Turtle (robot), 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract: 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 ...
Published: 2020

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407 results on '"Geoemydidae"'

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