Yellow-headed temple turtle

Yellow-headed temple turtle
Yellow-headed temple turtle in Turtle Conservation Center, Cuc-Phuong, Vietnam
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Heosemys
Species:
H. annandalii
Binomial name
Heosemys annandalii
(Boulenger, 1903)[3]
Synonyms[4]

The yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii) is a large species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

Etymology

The common name, "yellow-headed temple turtle", is derived from the fact that it is often found near Buddhist temples within its range.[citation needed]

The specific name, annandalii, is in honor of Scottish herpetologist Nelson Annandale.[5]

Description

H. annandalii may grow to over 20 in (51 cm) in straight carapace length.[citation needed]

Behavior

H. annandalii is aquatic, and is generally herbivorous.[citation needed]

Conservation status

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) suspended trade of yellow-headed temple turtles in July 2012.[6]

Geographic range

H. annandalii is found in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Myanmar.[3][4]

Habitat

Heosemys annandalii in Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center, Vietnam

The preferred natural habitats of H. annandalii are wet forests and freshwater wetlands.[1]

Captivity

H. annandalii may live in captivity for up to 35 years.[citation needed]

Two turtles were hatched in November 2019 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Heosemys annadali has been breed in captivity.[7]

Parasites

Leeches, Placobdelloides siamensis on the carapace of a yellow-headed temple turtle (arrows)

The leech Placobdelloides siamensis is an ectoparasite of this turtle.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Cota, M.; Horne, B.D.; McCormack, T.; Timmins, R.J. (2021). "Heosemys annandalii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T10041A495907. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T10041A495907.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ a b Rhodin 2011, p. 000.190
  4. ^ a b Fritz 2007, p. 224
  5. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Hieremys annandalii, p. 9).
  6. ^ "Times-Tribune CITES 2012". 27 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Yellow-headed temple turtles hatch at the Turtle Conservation Centre in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam". (10 April 2015). Asian Turtle Program. Archived from the original 8 January 2020.
  8. ^ Chiangkul, Krittiya; Trivalairat, Poramad; Purivirojkul, Watchariya (2018). "Redescription of the Siamese shield leech Placobdelloides siamensis with new host species and geographic range". Parasite. 25: 56. doi:10.1051/parasite/2018056. ISSN 1776-1042. PMC 6254108. PMID 30474597.
Bibliography

Further reading

  • Boulenger GA (1903). "Report on the Batrachians and Reptiles". pp. 131–178. In: Annandale N, Robinson HC (1903). Fasciculi Malayenses: Anthropological and Zoological Results of an Expedition to Perak and the Siamese Malay States, 1901-1902. Zoology, Part I. London, New York and Bombay: Longmans, Green & Co. for The University Press of Liverpool. 189 pp. (Cyclemys annandalii, new species, pp. 142–144 + Plates VII-VIII).
  • Chan-ard, Tanya; Parr, John W.K.; Nabhitabhata, Jarujin (2015). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand. New York: Oxford University Press. 314 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-973649-2 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0-19-973650-8 (paperback).
  • Smith MA (1931). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I.—Loricata, Testudines. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxviii + 185 pp. + Plates I-II. ("Hieremys annandalei [sic]", pp. 107–109, Figures 24-25).