Cuora trifasciata |
Common
Name: Chinese
Three-striped Box Turtle or Golden Turtle
Described by: Bell, 1825
Conservation
Status: Critically Endangered: IUCN Red List 2006
Conditionally at Risk in Laos
Vietnam Red List: Vulnerable
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Range
of Cuora trifasciata.
(John
B. Iverson)
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Habitat:
Aquatic and terrestrial. Streams or stream banks
in the hill and montane evergreen forest.
Mell (1922) collected Cuora trifasciata
in clear streams at elevations of 50 to 400
m in southern Kwangtung, but it probably occurs
in other aquatic situations. Captives frequently
bask and are often quite terrestrial, so this
species probably spends much time on land.
Range:
China (southern, Hainan and Hong Kong)
Laos (suspected in Annamite Mountains of central
region), Vietnam (in mountains and hills of
the northern and central regions)
Key
Threats: The plastron of Cuora
trifasciata is perceived to have medicinal
value, and is thought to contain medicinal properties
that can cure cancer. |
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More
about
Cuora trifasciata:
Cuora
trifasciata is
a priority species: Intense exploitation to meet the
demand of traditional medicine markets in China have
brought this species to the edge of extinction in Vietnam. |
Clutch
Size: One
clutch is laid of 5-6 eggs (Haito,
2001)
Egg description: Nesting occurs
in May, and two brittle, white, elongated (48-50
x 26-27mm) to tapered eggs are laid at one time.
Incubation: 80-85 days (Haito,
2001)
Age of maturity: Females become
productive at 0.75-1 kg weight according to the
owner of a commercial farm on Hainan (Haito,
2001).
Diet: Omnivorous. Frogs, crabs,
worms, fruits, vegetation and carrion. Captives
do well on a fish diet |
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Description:
Distinguishing
Features:
Three black longitudinal lines on carapace
Coloring: Top of head
pale brown or yellow, with black lines on the side of
the face, and a yellow or orange patch behind the eye.
Red yellow, or orange skin at the base of the front
legs.
Male/Female: Male has
indented plastron and a larger and thicker tail.
Plastron: Dark with
yellow border and front, and underside of the marginals
yellow or orange with occasional black spots. Hinged
plastron allows the turtle to close up its shell like
a box.
Carapace: up to 20cm.
Carapace |
Adult. |
Plastron |
Two Cuora trifasciata.
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This field guide was last
updated in August 2006.
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