Showing papers on "Geoemydidae published in 2012"
TL;DR: The data indicate that this highly exploited, endangered species may contain additional cryptic taxa, and emphasize the critical need for systematic evaluation of species before unrecognized variation is lost forever.
22 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a second geoemydid, Guangdongemys pingi nov gen. nov sp., is described on the basis of shell ma- terial.
Abstract: Key-words. - Turtle, Geoemydidae, Eocene, China, Guangdong province. Abstract. - The fossil record of testudinoid turtles of China during the Eocene-Oligocene is poorly documented. The Maoming basin is one of the few Paleogene basin in southern China having yielded a rich turtle fauna including Trionychidae, Carettochelyidae and Geoemydidae (Testudinoidea). Testudinoids were known in this basin by a single, supposed aquatic species, Isometremys lacuna CHOW and YEH, 1962. The examination of the new material collected since the first description, and a reexamination of the type material provide additional data on the morphology of that species. In addition, a second geoemydid, Guangdongemys pingi nov gen. nov sp., is described on the basis of shell ma- terial. Both species are supposed to be aquatic, and have a probably basal position in the geoemydid phylogeny.
21 citations
TL;DR: Two new species are described from the circulatory systems of the Malayan snail-eating turtle, Malayemys subtrijuga and the black marsh turtle, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, which have been described from hosts in the family Geoemydidae.
Abstract: Hapalorhynchus snyderi n. sp. and Hapalorhynchus tkachi n. sp. are described from the circulatory systems of the Malayan snail-eating turtle, Malayemys subtrijuga (Testudines: Geoemydidae) and the black marsh turtle, Siebenrockiella crassicollis (Testudines: Geoemydidae), respectively. Both of the new species are described from hosts in the family Geoemydidae, while previous species reported from Malaysia (Hapalorhynchus macrotesticularis and Hapalorhynchus rugatus) were described from soft-shelled turtles (Family Trionychidae). Both new species can be differentiated from H. rugatus Brooks and Sullivan (1981) in that they lack the rugae on the hindbody that is characteristic of H. rugatus. Hapalorhynchus snyderi n. sp. is most similar to H. macrotesticularis (Rohde, Lee, and Lim, 1968) but is much smaller and differs from that species in a suite of morphometric criteria. In addition, H. snyderi possesses intestinal cecae that are simple and straight while the cecae in H. macrotesticularis are hig...
6 citations
30 Jun 2012
TL;DR: The distribution of Korean freshwater turtles was determined based on a field study and literature study, and the taxonomic position of unidentified native turtles was considered, showing that the Korean native species is P. maackii, and P. sinensis was imported from abroad and has been in the natural habitats of Korea since 1970s.
Abstract: Korean freshwater turtles are divided into native turtles, Chinemys reevesii in Geoemydidae, Pelodiscus sinensis in Trionychidae, and imported turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, T. s. scripta, Pseudemys rubriventris and Ocadia sinensis. In this study, we determined the distribution of Korean freshwater turtles based on a field study and literature study, and considered the taxonomic position of unidentified native turtles. The study was carried out between May 2010 and November 2011 during the day time, and the capturing tool used to collect turtles consisted of net and metal frame. C. reevesii and P. sinensis were found in 16 and 11 places, respectively. C. reevesii, which inhabits the Korean peninsula, is a taxonomically controversial species, but it is presumed that the turtle belongs to Mauremys. Moreover recent taxonomic studies of the soft-shell turtle have shown that the Korean native species is P. maackii, and P. sinensis was imported from abroad and has been in the natural habitats of Korea since 1970s. The exterior shape and skeletal form of P. maackii and P. sinensis are nearly similar. However, the skin color and yellow spots on the shell could be used to distinguish the two species.
4 citations
TL;DR: A close genetic similarity among sampled turtles was further confirmed by sequencing the nuclear R35 gene, while the geometric morphometrics of the shell-shape were likewise similar, and the examined captive population of O. borneensis may be further treated as a single conservation unit.
Abstract: The Malaysian Giant Turtle (Orlitia borneensis) is a poorly known turtle with rapidly decreasing numbers in nature in spite of its strong protection on paper. Most individuals of this species kept in European zoos and included in captive breeding programs are confiscates from the illegal trade for food consumption and their geographic provenance is unknown. This study was aimed to assess genetic and phenotypic variation of the founders of this captive population. We sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and found 23 haplotypes. We constructed a haplotype network and examined demographic changes by Bayesian skyline plots of the effective population size. The maximum sequence divergence was less than 1.5% and the phylogenetic structure of the haplotypes was supported poorly. A close genetic similarity among sampled turtles was further confirmed by sequencing the nuclear R35 gene, while the geometric morphometrics of the shell-shape were likewise similar. Thus, the examined captive population of O. borneensis may be further treated as a single conservation unit.
1 citations