The Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis) or golden thread turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. They are widely distributed in the subtropical regions of Taiwan.
| Chinese stripe-necked turtle | |
|---|---|
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| At the San Diego Zoo | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Geoemydidae |
| Genus: | Mauremys |
| Species: | M. sinensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1870)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Like many other Geoemydidae, this species hybridizes vigorously with related and not-so-closely related members of its family.
It is one of the two most commonly found species used for divination that have been recovered from Shang dynasty sites, despite the Shang capital being over 1000 km north of its modern-day distribution range.[3]
Description
editChinese-stripe-necked turtles have a green body. As a juvenile, its carapace is grayish green and there are three distinctive ridges. As an adult, the color fades to a brown color and the two ridges gradually disappear. The plastron is ivory in color with small black spots. The male's tail is more coarse and long, while adult females will be larger than the males.
Habitat
editChinese stripe-necked turtles prefer lowland waters such as ponds, canals, and slow-moving rivers.[1] Climate is very important when sustaining a risk of invasion, since the turtles become naturalized in areas with a suitable climate.[4]
Distribution
editThe Chinese stripe-necked turtle is found in China (Hainan, Guangdong & Fujian), Taiwan and northern & central Vietnam.[1] There were hatchlings in the Torre Flavia wetland (coast of central Italy). This resulted in the idea that there is naturalization of the local population.[4]
Conservation
editChinese stripe-necked turtles are protected by CITES and the IUCN, with captive-breeding of Chinese stripe-necked turtles being approved. In Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, and in some other countries, it is a popular pet turtle; in some parts of Europe, the stripe-necked turtle has been observed more frequently in countries where common, invasive pet turtle species (such as sliders) have been banned.
On the subject of invasive turtles, one potential factor affecting wild Asian populations of stripe-necked turtles is the release of—and subsequent competition for resources with—the invasive North American red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), a globally popular subspecies of the pond slider (Trachemys scripta), and the world's most common invasive chelonian species. Larger populations of red-eared sliders, in countries outside of their North American range, directly compete for food and territories with sensitive native turtle species, while also risking exposing them to new, potentially deadly, pathogens.
Hybridization
editIn captivity, hybridisation has occurred between Mauremys sinensis and the Japanese (M. japonica), and Chinese pond turtle (M. sinensis) species. Another occurrence took place between a female M. sinensis and a male Oldham's leaf turtle (Cyclemys (oldhami) shanensis). A supposed species, Ocadia (Mauremys) glyphistoma, was actually a hybrid between a male M. sinensis and a female Vietnamese pond turtle (M. annamensis), a species nearly extinct in the wild. Ocadia philippeni, or Philippen's striped turtle, was also shown to be of a hybrid origin, specifically a male M. sinensis with a female golden coin turtle (Cuora trifasciata). Both are possibly naturally-occurring hybrids or captive-bred in the pet trade, either accidentally or intentionally by breeders. Therefore, turtles that are acquired as pets, or that possess dubious genetics, need to be kept separated from other members of the family to prevent further hybridization and unwanted eggs being laid.
Reproduction
editAfter mating, the female turtle may lay 5-20 eggs that hatch about 60 days when needed.
Footnotes
edit- ^ a b c Li, P.; Rao, D.-Q.; Wang, L. (2021). "Mauremys sinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T15026A547319. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T15026A547319.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 234. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755.
- ^ Keightley (1979), see especially pp. 160, 189-194.
- ^ a b Di Blasio, Laura; Santoro, Riccardo; Ferri, Vincenzo; Battisti, Corrado; Soccini, Christiana; Egidi, Alessandro; Scalici, Massimiliano (2021). "First successful reproduction of the Chinese striped-necked turtle Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1834) in a European wetland". BioInvasions Records. 10 (3): 721–729. doi:10.3391/bir.2021.10.3.22.
References
edit
- Buskirk, James R.; Parham, James F. & Feldman, Chris R. (2005): On the hybridisation between two distantly related Asian turtles (Testudines: Sacalia × Mauremys). Salamandra 41: 21–26. PDF fulltext[permanent dead link]
- Keightley (1979): Sources of Shang History: The Oracle-Bone Inscriptions of Bronze Age China. David N. Keightley. University of California Press. 1979.
- Spinks, Phillip Q.; Shaffer, Bradley H.; Iverson, John B. & McCord, William P. (2004) : "Phylogenetic hypotheses for the turtle family Geomydidae". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32, 164–182. Academic Press, Cambridge:MA.
- Tien-Hsi Chen, & Kuang-Yang Lue. (2008). Home ranges and movements of the Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Ocadia sinensis) in the Keelung River, northern Taiwan. Amphibia-Reptilia, 29(3), 383–392.