Ecomorphological correlates of microhabitat selection in two sympatric Asian Box Turtle species (Geoemydidae: Cuora)

Abstract

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