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Family : GEOEMYDIDAE
Species : Cyclemys oldhami
Maximum carapace length : 25.4 cm
Oldham's Leaf Terrapin
is one of 7 species of asian leaf turtle (Fritz et al, 2008), six of which occur in Southeast Asia.
This species is known to occur in parts of Myanmar, central and northern
Thailand, northern Cambodia, Laos, and northern and central Vietnam.
It inhabits streams and ponds in lowland and hilly areas (Das, 2012). Little is known of
its ecology.
Cyclemys oldhami is described as morphologically variable i.e. the dimensions of selected features vary more in this
species than in others of the same genus (for example, measurements of scale
dimensions, relative carapace width and length etc.).
Cyclemys oldhami can be distinguished by its brown head, which is mottled or
speckled with dark spots on the crown, the narrow stripes on its head and
neck, and
its dark belly and throat.
In eastern parts of its range adults retain the head and neck stripes
which are typical of juveniles, but in western areas these stripes are lost
as the turtles age (Fritz et al, 2008).
The carapace is also dark brown, and the plastron (i.e. the underside) is
typically dark brown to blackish, but more pale in juveniles. When viewed from
above the carapace appears somewhat rectangular, and much less rounded than
other species of Cyclemys.
Figs 1 and 2 : Example from Kaeng Krachan, Phetchaburi Province,
Thailand, photographed in a deep pool near forest-edge habitat.
Fig 3 : Forest pool at Kaeng Krachan, which supports Cyclemys oldhami.
All photos thanks to Charles Currin.
References :
Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.
Fritz, U.; D Guicking, M Auer, R. S Sommer, M Wink, A. K Hundsdörfer
2008. Diversity of the Southeast Asian leaf turtle genus Cyclemys:
how many leaves on its tree of life?. Zoologica Scripta, 37, pp
367–390.
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