
Fig 1

Fig 2

Fig 3

Fig 4
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Family : GEOEMYDIDAE
Species : Heosemys annandalii
Maximum carapace length : 50 cm
The Yellow-headed Temple Turtle only occurs in Southeast Asia, where it inhabits
slow-flowing rivers, canals, freshwater ponds and flooded fields. In its
native habitats it is considered to be endangered, however there are captive
specimens in many temple ponds, and the species is often released into
non-native areas.
It feeds
almost exclusively on aquatic vegetation, supplemented by fallen fruits when
available.
It has a strongly domed, relatively smooth, dark grey carapace. The plastron
is yellow or orange in colour, with black blotches. Its forehead, jaws and
neck are yellow with darker bands, and the upper jaw bears two sharply pointed
projections or cusps. The feet are large and strongly webbed.
The images shown here were taken in a captive breeding project at the Angkor
Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB),
near Kbal Spean, Cambodia.
Cambodia was once considered the stronghold for this species, particularly
the huge lake of Tonlé Sap. This is a vast body of freshwater in central
Cambodia which annually floods during the wet season : at such times its
surface area increases from 2,500 square kilometres to around 16,000 square
kilometres. As a consequence, forests and other low-lying habitats at the margin of the lake are
submerged under many metres of silty water.
Davidson (2006) concluded that Tonlé Sap supports internationally
significant populations of this species and was the single most important
area for its conservation. Platt et al (2008), who surveyed Tonlé Sap between 2000 and 2001, described the problem of over-harvesting of
the species for commercial export.
It is not clear how the population of this species has fared in Tonlé Sap during the last decade.
The Yellow-headed Temple Turtle has a fragmented distribution in parts of
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and parts of northern Peninsular Malaysia.
It may also be present in southern Myanmar.
Fig 1 : Adult specimen in pristine condition, with high domed carapace
and typical yellow markings.
Fig 2 : Close-up of the head and neck showing the distinctive zig-zag
shape of the upper jaw line, formed by the presence of two pointed
projections or cusps.
Figs 3 and 4 : Seasonally flooded forest at the margin of
Tonlé Sap
lake, Cambodia. Despite over-harvesting, such habitat may still be a
relative stronghold for the
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle.
Thanks to Christel Griffioen, ACCB, for assistance.
References :
Auliya, M. (2007). An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and
Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste. Traffic Southeast Asia.
Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New
Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.
Davidson, P. J. (2006). The biodiversity of the Tonlé Sap Biosphere
Reserve: 2005 status review. Wildlife Conservation Society (unpublished
report to UNDP/GEF Tonlé Sap Conservation Project), Phnom Penh.
Platt, S. G., Sovannara, H., Kheng, L., Holloway, R., Stuart, B. L., &
Rainwater, T. R. (2008). Biodiversity, exploitation, and conservation of
turtles in the Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve, Cambodia, with notes on
reproductive ecology of Malayemys subtrijuga. Journal
Information, 7(2).
Links :
Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity

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