Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle

Japanese Pip tortoise ( Geoemyda japonica)

The Japanese Pip tortoise ( Geoemyda japonica) is one of the Pip tortoises ( Geoemyda ).

Features

The head and neck of this turtle is colored by a strong dark blue and streaked with red stripes. This coloration becomes more intense with increasing age. Also, the plastron ( plastron ) and the extremities of most Japanese Pip tortoises are colored dark blue. The carapace ( carapace ) can come in various shades of brown or yellowish. The rear edge of the carapace is serrated, which gives the Japanese Pip tortoise her name. Because of their color and the spikes this turtle resembles a fallen leaf and is thus very well camouflaged in their environment.

Habitat

The Japanese Pip tortoise occurs on the Ryukyu Islands, and is there under the name Ryukyu yamagame (Japanese琉球 山 亀) known. She lives endemic only on the three islands of Okinawa, Tokashikijima and Kumejima. The populations of these terrestrial living turtles are found in the forest areas of these islands. The islands have a tropical climate without rain cool season.

Food

The Japanese Pip tortoise feeds, among other things, insects, worms and snails. Even vegetable food is part of the food spectrum.

Nature protection and hazard

The increasing habitat destruction ( agricultural use, forest felling ) is compromised this way. Attitude and trade of turtles are highly regulated in Japan. Furthermore, these animals were declared a "National Natural Monument ", now you meet protection measures to the natural habitats of these turtles to get.