Chinese stripe-necked turtle

Chinese stripe-necked turtle
At the San Diego Zoo
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Geoemydidae
Genus:	Mauremys
Species:	M. sinensis
Binomial name
Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1870)
Synonyms
Ocadia sinensis Gray, 1870 Emys sinensis Gray, 1834 Emys bennettii Gray, 1844 Graptemys sinensis Agassiz, 1857 Clemmys bennettii Strauch, 1862 Clemmys sinensis Strauch, 1862 Emys chinensis Gray, 1870 (ex errore) Mauremys sinensis Gray, 1870 Testudo anyangensis Ping, 1930 Pseudocadia anyangensis Lindholm, 1931 Mauremys sinensis changwui Tao, 1988 Mauremys sinensis sinensis Artner, 2003

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis) or golden thread turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. They are widely distributed in the subtropical regions of Taiwan.

Like many other Geoemydidae, this species hybridizes vigorously with related and not-so-closely related members of its family.

It is one of the two most commonly found species used for divination that have been recovered from Shang dynasty sites, despite the Shang capital being over 1000 km north of its modern-day distribution range.

Description

Chinese-stripe-necked turtles have a green body. As a juvenile, its carapace is grayish green and there are three distinctive ridges. As an adult, the color fades to a brown color and the two ridges gradually disappear. The plastron is ivory in color with small black spots. The male's tail is more coarse and long, while adult females will be larger than the males.

Habitat

Chinese stripe-necked turtles prefer lowland waters such as ponds, canals, and slow-moving rivers. Climate is very important when sustaining a risk of invasion, since the turtles become naturalized in areas with a suitable climate.

Distribution

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle is found in China (Hainan, Guangdong & Fujian), Taiwan and northern & central Vietnam. There were hatchlings in the Torre Flavia wetland (coast of central Italy). This resulted in the idea that there is naturalization of the local population.

Conservation

Chinese stripe-necked turtles are protected by the CITES and IUCN, captive-breeding Chinese stripe-necked turtles are approved. Another reason that affects its population is the invasion of red-eared sliders. In Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan and in some other countries, it is a popular pet turtle.

Hybridization

In captivity, hybrids have been produced between this species and Japanese pond turtle, (Mauremys japonica) and the Chinese pond turtle, (Mauremys sinensis) as well as with a male Cyclemys (oldhami) shanensis. The supposed species Ocadia glyphistoma is a hybrid between a male M. sinensis and a female Vietnamese pond turtle, (Mauremys annamensis) a species nearly extinct in the wild. Ocadia philippeni was also shown to be of hybrid origin, a male M. sinensis with a female Cuora trifasciata. Both are either naturally occurring or bred for the pet trade. Any individuals that are available as pets therefore need to be kept separate from other members of the family to prevent hybridization.

Reproduction

After mating, the female turtle may lay 5-20 eggs that hatch about 60 days when needed.

References

• Buskirk, James R.; Parham, James F. & Feldman, Chris R. (2005): On the hybridisation between two distantly related Asian turtles (Testudines: Sacalia × Mauremys). Salamandra 41: 21–26. PDF fulltext
• Keightley (1979): Sources of Shang History: The Oracle-Bone Inscriptions of Bronze Age China. David N. Keightley. University of California Press. 1979.
• Spinks, Phillip Q.; Shaffer, Bradley H.; Iverson, John B. & McCord, William P. (2004) : "Phylogenetic hypotheses for the turtle family Geomydidae". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32, 164–182. Academic Press, Cambridge:MA.
• Tien-Hsi Chen, & Kuang-Yang Lue. (2008). Home ranges and movements of the Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Ocadia sinensis) in the Keelung River, northern Taiwan. Amphibia-Reptilia, 29(3), 383–392.