Yunnan box turtle

Yunnan Box Turtle ( Cuora yunnanensis )

The Yunnan Box Turtle ( Cuora yunnanensis ) is an extremely rare turtle species of the genus Cuora. It was long considered extinct until it was rediscovered in 2004.

Features

The carapace reaches a length of 14 centimeters in females and 12.6 centimeters in males. He is slightly convex and behind the middle at the widest. It contains a significant Vertebralkiel and two weak longitudinal keels. The vortex shields of old animals are the same length and width, but much narrower than the adjacent ribs shields. The posterior marginal shields are smooth in the adult animals and serrated something in the pups. The color of the carapace varies from brown to olive. In some specimens the edge and the keels can be yellow. The plastron is well-developed, but the hinge is weak and the posterior lobe is not fully closed. The color of the breastplate is olive to brown with black seams and a yellowish margin. Along the middle edge plates passes a black band. On each Plastronschild a large reddish brown stain is visible. The upper jaw is not hook-shaped, the muzzle is, however, pointed and slightly protruding. About the olive to brown head, a narrow yellow stripe runs from the eye to the neck. A second yellow stripe extends from the mouth wound to the neck. Chin and throat are yellow to orange with olive-colored marbling. The neck is olive to brown with two orange stripes on each side. The legs and tail are olive to brown with orange streaks. The males have longer, thicker tails. The rump is located outside of the carapace.

Occurrence

About the distribution area, there is no reliable information. Twelve specimens were collected in 1906 on the Yunnan Plateau in China. John B. Iverson is as the place where the regions near Dongchuan and Kunming in Yunnan province.

Status

In 1996, the Yunnan Box Turtle was in the category of " insufficient data " ( data deficient ) was added to the IUCN Red List. In 2000, the status was " extinct " ( extinct ) changed because the Yunnan Box Turtle was last seen, according to information position of the IUCN in 1906. In studies carried out between 2005 and 2006, it was outlined that the last reliable evidence in 1940 was. In 2004 was acquired on a livestock market in Kunming a living female, one year later in the same market one male and another female discovered in 2006. From the IUCN this rediscovery was not recognized and members of the Asian Turtle Trade Working Group were of the view that it might be in these animals to intentionally produced hybrids. A DNA analysis revealed in 2007 to prove that the three animals actually represent the -lost Yunnan Box Turtle. The distribution of the Yunnan Box Turtle remains unclear. Due to their value, it is extremely sought after. Even if no information about the habitats are present, it is likely that each surviving individual is affected by the fragmentation of large Chinese rivers by dams and deforestation in south-west China. In addition, the use of fertilizers and chemicals showing adverse effects on the environments.