Cuora amboinensis

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Cladus: Archelosauria
Division: Pan-Testudines
Division: Testudinata
Ordo: Testudines
Subordo: Cryptodira
Superfamilia: Testudinoidea

Familia: Geoemydidae
Subfamilia: Geoemydinae
Genus: Cuora
Species: Cuora amboinensis
Subspecies: C. a. amboinensis – C. a. couro – C. a. kamaroma – C. a. lineata
Name

Cuora amboinensis (Daudin 1801)

Type locality: "Amboine" Island (or “Amboina”), Indonesia.

Holotype: MNHN.
Synonyms

Testudo fasciata Suckow 1798
Testudo amboinensis Daudin 1802
Testudo melanocephala Daudin 1802
Terrapene bicolor Bell 1825
Emys couro Gray in Griffith 1831 (ex errore)
Cuora amboinensis Gray 1856: 264
Cistudo amboinensisDuméril & Bibron 1835: 215
Cistudo Amboinensis Duméril & Bibron 1854: 224
Cyclemys amboinensis Boulenger 1889
Cuora amboinensis Manthey & Grossmann 1997: 443

References

Daudin, F.M. 1801. Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, des reptiles : ouvrage faisant suite à l'Histoire naturelle générale et particulière, composée par Leclerc de Buffon, et rédigée par C.S. Sonnini. Tome Second. L'Imprimerie de F. Dufart: Paris. 432 pp. + pls. XVI–XXVIII. BHL Reference page.
Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. 1997: Amphibien & Reptilien Südostasiens. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 512 pp. ISBN 3-931587-12-6. Reference page.
Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., Bour, R., Fritz, U., Georges, A., Shaffer, H.B. & van Dijk, P.P.). 2017. Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (8th Ed.). Chelonian Research Monographs 7: 1–292. ISBN 978-1-5323-5026-9. DOI: 10.3854/crm.7.checklist.atlas.v8.2017. Paywall. Full article (PDF). Reference page.
Cuora amboinensis at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 30 sep 2008.
IUCN: Cuora amboinensis (Riche in Daudin, 1801) (Vulnerable)

Vernacular names
čeština: Želva amboinská
Deutsch: Amboina-Scharnierschildkröte
English: Amboina Box Turtle; Southeast Asian Box Turtle
日本語: マレーハコガメ
slovenčina: Kuora malajská
ไทย: เต่าหับ
中文: 马来闭壳龟, 安布闭壳龟

The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) is a species of Asian box turtle.

It is found in the Nicobar Islands, eastern India (Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, central and southern Vietnam, west Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines (Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Panay, etc.), Indonesia (Sulawesi, Ambon Island, Sumatra, Borneo, East Malaysia, Brunei, Nias, Enggano, Simeulue, Java, Sumbawa, Halmahera, Ceram, Seram, Buru, East Timor, Bali, Palawan and Maluku), and possibly China (Guangxi and Guangdong) and Sri Lanka.

The type locality is "Amboine" (or "Amboina") Island, today Ambon Island in Indonesia.

Description

These turtles have blackish-brown to olive-brown colored shells that are not as ornate as many other box turtles. All have a blackish olive head with three yellow stripes on the side. The male can be identified by the slightly concave shape to its plastron. There is no specific pattern to what the underbellies may look like, for either sex. The only true way of telling age is to guess by the texture of the shell, as growth rings form irregularly.[4][5]

There are four subspecies that are primarily differentiated by differences in the color and shape of the carapace:[6]

Cuora amboinensis amboinensis (Wallacean box turtle) – eastern Indonesian islands: Ambon Island, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Buru, Seram, and East Timor and smaller islands in the region.

Has a quite flat shell with flared marginal scutes. The plastron has bigger black spots, and it possesses a bigger head; well adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. For individuals suspected to be of this subspecies: Ratio of carapace length / height: 3.08. Average ratio dimensions of plastron spots: 1.21 (almost circular)

Cuora amboinensis couro (West Indonesian box turtle) (Schweigger, 1812)[7] – south Indonesian islands: Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sumbawa.

Moderately domed carapace, some individuals possess flared marginal scutes. The plastron shows black markings on every plastral scute. Darker in coloration, more oval black spots on the plastron.

Cuora amboinensis kamaroma (Malayan box turtle or domed Malayan box turtle) Rummler & Fritz, 1991[7] Mainland Indochina (South and Central Vietnam, southern Laos and Cambodia), Thailand (Phang Nga Province etc.), Singapore and mainland Malaysia and Borneo.

High domed carapace and smaller, more elongated plastron with less black spots than the other subspecies. It has a smaller and shorter tail compared to the other subspecies and does not have any flares in the marginal scutes. Average ratio of carapace length / height: 2.82. Average ratio dimensions of plastron spots: 2.14 (small and elongated)

Cuora amboinensis lineata (Burmese box turtle) McCord & Philippen, 1998[7] – Myanmar.

Resembles Cuora amboinensis kamaroma, but in the carapace there is a bright colored mid-dorsal line, and sometimes a bright colored lateral line. The plastral scutes possess large black spots similar to Cuora amboinensis couro.

Several distinct populations are believed to represent up to four more subspecies, or at least striking varieties.[8]

C. a. kamaroma has hybridized in captivity with the Vietnamese pond turtle – a species nearly extinct in the wild – and with males of the Chinese pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii).[9] Other hybrids are known, like C. amboinensis × Cuora trifasciata.[8]
Ecology and status

They are omnivorous, with younger turtles tending towards more meat consumption and older turtles eating a more herbivorous diet.[4]

Although Cuora amboinensis is classified as endangered by the IUCN,[10] they are able to thrive in some areas of the world. For example, they can be found in the storm drains of Brunei. These are seriously polluted, and yet seem to be extremely popular habitat for these turtles and other animals that can withstand eutrophication. In some places, this species is hunted for use in folk medicine.[11]

Cuora amboinensis can be quite difficult to breed in captivity, compared with other box turtles. These turtles have a mating ritual very similar to that of other box turtles. No courtship occurs, the male simply climbs upon the female. He then snaps at her head, so that she closes the front half of her shell, opening the back.
Pet care
Adult C. amboinensis amboinensis
Juvenile Malayan box turtles (Cuora amboinensis kamaroma)

Any individual considering a turtle as a pet should thoroughly research both general care and the care of the particular species in which they are interested. Individuals considering a Cuora amboinensis as a pet should keep in mind that it is a tropical, non-hibernating species who needs much warmer water (about 82 degrees F) than many other semi-aquatic species. The adult Cuora amboinensis is smaller in comparison to more well-known species such as the red-eared slider or cooter, but a fully grown adult will generally need at least a 55-gallon tank and this habitat should be semi-aquatic, not terrestrial.

Cuora amboinensis is far more aquatic than many other box turtle species. Unfortunately, this has often led to pet Cuoras being incorrectly housed in terrestrial habitats. Although they are clumsy swimmers and need shallower water than other semi-aquatic turtles that are stronger swimmers, (e.g., sliders, cooters, and painteds), they tend to vastly prefer being in the water to on land. In the wild, they will often live in almost entirely in water only emerging to bask and to lay eggs. They can even mate in the water.
References

Cota, M.; Hoang, H.; Horne, B.D.; Kusrini, M.D.; McCormack, T.; Platt, K.; Schoppe, S.; Shepherd, C. (2020). "Cuora amboinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T5958A3078812. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5958A3078812.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 214–215. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
"Cuora amboinensis".
"Jabberwock Reptiles". Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
Filella (1997); measurements taken at the LCRC 2006-SEP-20.
Cuora amboinensis, The Reptile Database
Vetter & Van Dijk (2006)
Fritz & Mendau (2002), Galgon & Fritz (2002), Buskirk et al. (2005)
ATTWG (2000)

da Nóbrega Alves et al. (2008)

Buskirk, James R.; Parham, James F.; Feldman, Chris R. (2005). "On the hybridisation between two distantly related Asian turtles (Testudines: Sacalia × Mauremys)" (PDF). Salamandra. 46 (1/2): 21–26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
da Nóbrega Alves, Rômulo Romeu; da Silva Vieira; Washington Luiz & Gomes Santana, Gindomar (2008): Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: conservation implications. Biodiversity and Conservation 17 (8): 2037–2049. doi:10.1007/s10531-007-9305-0 (HTML abstract, PDF first page)
Filella, Eduard (1997): Cuora amboinensis la tortuga caja del sudeste asiático y sus subespecies ["C. amboinensis, the southeast Asian box turtle, and its subspecies"]. Reptilia 13: 43–47 [Article in Spanish][verification needed].
Fritz, Uwe & Mendau, D. (2002): Ein Gattungsbastard zweier südostasiatischer Schildkröten: Cuora amboinensis kamaroma Rummler & Fritz 1991 × Mauremys annamensis (Siebenrock 1903) ["An intergeneric hybrid of two Southeast Asian turtles: C. a. kamaroma × M. annamensis"]. Salamandra 38 (3): 129–134 [Article in German][verification needed].
Galgon, Frank & Fritz, Uwe (2002): Captive bred hybrids between Chinemys reevesii (Gray, 1831) and Cuora amboinensis kamaroma Rummler & Fritz, 1991. Herpetozoa 15 (3/4): 137–148.
McCord, William P.; Philippen, Hans-Dieter (1998). "A New Subspecies of box turtle, Cuora amboinensis lineata, from Northern Myanmar (Burma), with Remarks on the Distribution and Geographic Variation of the Species" (PDF). Reptile Hobbyist (March): 51–58.
Rummler, H. J. & Fritz, Uwe (1991): Geographische Variabilität der Amboina-Scharnierschildkröte Cuora amboinensis (Daudin, 1802), mit Beschreibung einer neuen Unterart, C. a. kamaroma subsp. nov. ["Geographic variation of C. amboinensis with description of a new subspecies, C. a. kamaroma"]. Salamandra 27 (1/2): 17–45 [Article in German][verification needed].
SHOPPE, S.; DAS, I. (2011). "Cuora amboinensis (Riche in Daudin 1801) – Southeast Asian Box Turtle" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (5): 053.1–053.13.
Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (2017). Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (8th Ed.) (PDF). Chelonian Research Foundation and Turtle Conservancy. ISBN 978-1-5323-5026-9.
Vetter, H. & Van Dijk, P.P. (2006): Turtles of the World (Vol. 4: East and South Asia) – Schildkröten der Welt (Band 4: Ost- und Südasien). Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.

Further reading

This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Cuora amboinensis kamaroma, Rui Pessoa, May 2007, Lisbon, Portugal

Becker, H. (1999): Ergänzende Bemerkungen zur Haltung und zur Nachzucht von Cuora flavomarginata (Gray 1863) ["Additional remarks on captive care and breeding of C. flavomarginata"]. Elaphe 7 (3): 2–10 [Article in German][verification needed].
Ernst, C.H. (1988): Cuora mccordi, a new Chinese box turtle from Guangxi Province. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 101: 466–470.
Pauler, I. (1980): Die Schildkrötengattung Cuora ["The turtle genus Curoa"]. Herpetofauna 2 (6): 15–18 [Article in German][verification needed].
Praedicow, G. (1985): Langjährige Erfahrungen bei der Pflege von Cuora amboinensis (Daudin) ["Long-term experiences in captive care of C. amboinensis"]. Herpetofauna 7 (36)[verification needed]: 6–14 [Article in German][verification needed].