Mauremys

Mauremys
File:PICT2884.JPG
Mauremys leprosa, adult female from Spain
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Geoemydidae
Subfamily:	Geoemydinae
Genus:	Mauremys Gray, 1869
Synonyms
Annamemys Cathaiemys Emmenia Eryma

Mauremys is a genus of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (formerly called Bataguridae). Ocadia and Chinemys are included here by some scientists, but not by the majority nor by hobbyists.

Species include:

• Japanese Pond TurtleMauremys japonica
• Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Mauremys mutica
• Vietnamese Pond Turtle or Annam Leaf Turtle, Mauremys annamensis - formerly separated in Annamemys
• Caspian Pond Turtle or Striped-neck Terrapin, Mauremys caspica
• Balkan Pond Turtle or Balkan Terrapin Mauremys rivulata - formerly included in M. caspica
• Spanish Pond Turtle Mauremys leprosa - formerly included in M. caspica

The Fujian Pond Turtle, described as Mauremys iversoni, is a natural hybrid, probably between Asian Yellow Pond Turtle (usually females) and the Golden Coin Turtle (usually males). Similarly, the turtles described as Mauremys pritchardi are hybrids between the Chinese Pond Turtle and the Asian Yellow Pond Turtle. While it is not unusual for valid species of geoemydid turtles to arise from hybrids, this does not seem to be the case here: the two taxa are only known from a few individuals , not from a self-sustaining population, and at least the latter is almost certainly sterile.

References

• Parham, James Ford; Simison, W. Brian; Kozak, Kenneth H.; Feldman, Chris R. & Shi, Haitao (2001): New Chinese turtles: endangered or invalid? A reassessment of two species using mitochondrial DNA, allozyme electrophoresis and known-locality specimens. Animal Conservation 4(4): 357–367. HTML abstract Erratum: Animal Conservation 5(1): 86 HTML abstract