Spiny Turtle Research Articles

Plastral deossification zones in the Endangered Spiny Hill Turtle Heosemys spinosa (Testudines: Geoemydidae) on Borneo

Studies of the evolution of turtle shell morphology have raised numerous questions. In this study, five adult females and two adult males of the Endangered Spiny Hill Turtle Heosemys spinosa from two localities in western Sarawak in East Malaysia (Borneo) were examined for the presence of plastral deossification zones, reported as indicative of kinesis in earlier studies. A total of 52 (34 females, 18 males) radiographs demonstrated distinct poorly-ossified areas across the hyo-hypoplastral and the hypo-xiphiplastral junctures in females of straight carapace length (SCL) 143.4–211.4 mm. The feature is here interpreted as a permanent plastral hinge, which was not observed in either of the males examined. The smallest female with a weak but discernible line at the contact of these bones had a SCL of 125 mm, suggestive of minimum size of maturity in Heosemys spinosa in this population.

Threatened Herpetofauna: Important Information Towards Establishment of Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) in Perak

Target 9 in the National Policy on Biological Diversity elaborates on the prevention of known threatened species extinction, and their conservation status needs to be improved by 2025. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) is a comprehensive approach to conserving globally threatened species, including herpetofauna and their habitats. A site must meet the thresholds for at least one criterion to qualify as Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). This paper aims to demonstrate threatened herpetofauna information in Perak based on published literature according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification. A total of 34 papers were accessed starting from 1977 until 2022. Of these, 14 threatened herpetofauna species were identified: Nanohyla annectens, Cyrtodactylus guakanthanensis, Cyrtodactylus jarakensis, Heosemys grandis, Batagur affinis, Manouria emys, Manouria impressa, Pelochelys cantorii, Cuora amboinensis, Heosemys spinosa, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, Amyda cartilaginea, Pseudocalotes larutensis, and Larutia larutensis. There was only 1.9% (1sp), and 11.4% (13spp) of the total number (166spp) of amphibians (52spp) and reptiles (114spp) were published, respectively. However, coordinates of the exact locations must be gathered to ensure spatial and temporal information can be developed to locate the habitat of threatened species. In short, studies on herpetofauna in Perak is still in need. At least, from this assessment, another step towards identifying KBA in Perak has been initiated and must be continued.

Development of E-Module Based on Morphometric Studies of the Diversity of Sumatran Turtles for High School Students

This study aims to determine the morphometry of Sumatran turtles in the conservation area of the Turtle Learning Center (TLC), Bengkulu University and the Ruyani Life Science Learning Resource (SBIH), then the results of this morphometric study are made into E-Module products. This type of study is a Research and Development (R&D). Data collection techniques were performed in the form of observation and documentation. The data analysis technique used a qualitative descriptive technique, namely the data obtained and then analyzed descriptively. Morphometric data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive. Furthermore, the product is made in the form of an E-Module. Research results of Morphometric studies in TLC contained five types of Sumatran turtles, namely Cuora amboinensis, Heosemys spinosa, Cyclemys dentata, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, and Manouria emys. In SBIH Ruyani, there are four types of Sumatran turtles, namely Dogania subplana, Pelochelys cantorii and Orlitia borneensis. The results of the E-Module product for the morphometric study of the Sumatran turtles after validated by the expert obtained a very decent assessment presentation. The material expert validator obtained an assessment presentation of 86.53%, and the media expert obtained an assessment percentage of 91.67%.

First Record of the Spiny Turtle (Heosemys spinosa) in Myanmar

We report the first specimen-based records of Heosemys spinosa (Gray 1830) from Myanmar, validating earlier assumptions of its occurrence within the country. Our records consist of 5 living H. spinosa examined at Kan Baw Gyi Village in Tanintharyi Region of southern Myanmar. These specimens originated from seasonally inundated lowland riparian wetlands near the village where we examined them. Potential threats to H. spinosa in southern Myanmar include subsistence and commercial harvesting and, most importantly, the widespread conversion of natural forests to oil palm plantations.

Cryptic variation and the tragedy of unrecognized taxa: the case of international trade in the spiny turtle Heosemys spinosa (Testudines: Geoemydidae)

Loss of habitat and human exploitation have driven many turtle species to the brink of extinction, particularly in many parts of southern Asia. The spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa) is a terrestrial species distributed throughout the Sundaland region of South-East Asia. Despite international legislative protection, H. spinosa continues to be illegally collected for the food and traditional medicine markets of China. Given its widespread distribution, taxonomists have reasonably questioned whether H. spinosa truly represents a single evolutionary lineage or multiple undiagnosed species. Recently, a large and illegal shipment of rare, wild-caught H. spinosa was confiscated in Hong Kong, China, and the turtles were eventually distributed to several zoos and academic collections. Based on analyses of these individuals, along with additional individuals from the pet trade and museum collections, we found concordant genetic and phenotypic variation, indicating that two distinct types of H. spinosa exist in this collection of turtles. Further characterization of this variation will require field surveys and the collection of additional morphological and genetic data from specimens of known geographic provenance. However, our data indicate that this highly exploited, endangered species may contain additional cryptic taxa, and emphasize the critical need for systematic evaluation of species before unrecognized variation is lost forever. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164, 811–824.

Status and Distribution of Nonmarine Turtles of the Philippines

Abstract We present updated accounts on the status and distribution of all known species of freshwater turtles in the Philippines, including information on taxonomy, natural history, exploitation, and conservation status. Six species of native nonmarine turtles (Dogania subplana, Pelochelys cantorii, Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, Heosemys spinosa, and Siebenrockiella leytensis) are recognized from the Philippines, 2 of which are trionychids and 4 are geoemydids. One of these (S. leytensis) is an endemic species. There is some evidence to suggest that Philippine populations of P. cantorii, C. amboinensis, C. dentata, and H. spinosa may warrant further taxonomic study. The fauna also includes 3 introduced species (Pelodiscus sinensis, Trachemys scripta elegans, and Chrysemys picta). Pelodiscus sinensis, D. subplana, C. amboinensis, and S. leytensis feature prominently in the domestic food and pet trade. Preliminary information indicates that these species are also illegally exported to supply interna...

Osteology in the Cuora galbinifrons complex suggests conspecifity of C. bourreti and C. galbinifrons, with notes on shell osteology and phalangeal formulae within the Geoemydidae

AbstractThirty-six complete skeletons, three shells, and x-rays of the extremities of 32 additional turtles of the Cuora galbinifrons complex have been compared with 38 other geoemydid species from 19 genera. Cuora bourreti differs from C. galbinifrons and C. picturata by a lost phalanx in the fourth finger and fourth toe. Individuals with a shell shape intermediate between C. bourreti and C. galbinifrons, as found on Hainan Island (China), have either the reduced phalangeal formula of C. bourreti (manus: 2-3-3-2-2, pes: 2-3-3-2-1) or the complete number of phalanges (manus: 2-3-3-3-2, pes: 2-3-3-3-1). Only in C. flavomarginata did we also register a lost phalanx in the fourth digit of manus and pes; in the pes of C. mouhotii the same character state may occur. In C. flavomarginata the fifth digit of the pes is also lacking. Some other terrestrial and semiterrestrial geoemydids (Cuora mccordi, Heosemys spinosa, and in part C. mouhotii and Leucocephalon yuwonoi) display a similar pattern of phalangeal reduction, resulting in the loss of the fifth digit of the pes. Likewise, in tortoises (Testudinidae), a further group of terrestrial chelonians, and the terrestrial turtle genus Terrapene (Emydidae) the loss of phalanges or complete digits is known to occur. Malayemys subtrijuga, Morenia petersi, Pangshura smithii and Siebenrockiella crassicollis differ from all other studied geoemydid taxa by an additional phalanx in the fifth digit of the manus (2-3-3-3-3); one P. smithii has on one body side three phalanges in the fifth digit of the pes (2-3-3-3-3). These are highly aquatic turtles with extensive toe webbing. Probably, longer digits (and thus a higher phalangeal number) are a favorable prerequisite for swimming while phalangeal loss seems to be the consequence of walking.Cuora bourreti and C. picturata have consistently in the bony carapace a very rare character state regarding the articulation of the rib tips with the peripheral plates. In both species the rib tips are intercalated between two peripheral plates in the bridge region. Intercalated rib tips like those in C. bourreti and C. picturata were found only in C. m. mouhotii, but not in the southern subspecies C. mouhotii obsti. In C. galbinifrons and all other geoemydid taxa studied the rib tips articulate on the bridge within the underlying peripheral and not between two peripherals. In turtles morphologically intermediate between C. bourreti and C. galbinifrons both characters states are found. This suggests that such individuals are hybrids or intergrades. Three known-locality specimens from Hainan Island display both extremes and an intermediate character state. This, together with external morphology and the occurrence of both phalangeal formulae in approximately the same frequency on that island, argues for genetic introgression of C. bourreti on the Hainan population of C. galbinifrons. We conclude that our findings qualify C. galbinifrons and C. bourreti under the Biological Species Concept as conspecific.