Yellow-headed temple turtle

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

Yellow-headed temple turtle
Scientific classification
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)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Cyclemys annandalii
    Boulenger, 1903
  • Hieremys annandalei
    M.A. Smith, 1916 (ex errore)
  • Cyclemys annandali
    Mell, 1929 (ex errore)
  • Cyclemys annandalei
    — M.A. Smith, 1930
  • Hieremys annandalii
    — M.A. Smith, 1930
  • Hieremys annandali
    Mertens, L. Müller & Rust, 1934
  • Heosemys annandalii
    Diesmos, Parham, B.L. Stuart & R.M. Brown, 2005

Etymology

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

The specific name, annandalii, is in honor of Scottish herpetologist Nelson Annandale.[3]

Description

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

Behavior

H. annandalii is aquatic, and is generally herbivorous.

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.[4]

Geographic range

H. annandalii is found in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Myanmar.[1][2]

Captivity

H. annandalii may live in captivity for up to 35 years.

Two turtles were hatched in November 2019 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Heosemys annadali has been breed in captivity.[5]

Parasites

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

The leech Placobdelloides siamensis is an ectoparasite of this turtle.[6]

References

  1. Rhodin 2011, p. 000.190
  2. Fritz 2007, p. 224
  3. 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).
  4. "Times-Tribune CITES 2012".
  5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200108084641/https://www.asianturtleprogram.org/pages/TCC/2013-04-H_annandalii_hatchlings/H_annandalii_2013.htm "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.
  6. 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.
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).
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