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New Records of Turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam

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New Records of Turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 737-744 (2014) (published online on 21 December 2014) New records of turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam Loi Duc Duong1, Chung Dac Ngo1 and Truong Quang Nguyen2,* Abstract. Nine species of turtles are recorded for the first time from Binh Dinh Province, namely Platysternon megacephalum, Cuora amboiensis, C. picturata, C. trifasciata, Heosemys grandis, Malayemys subtrijuga, Mauremys sinensis, Sacalia quadriocellata, and Manouria impressa. Our findings bring the total number of turtle species to 17 in Binh Dinh Province. Key words: Distribution, morphology, new records, taxonomy, Binh Dinh. Introduction Based on the results of our recent field work between 2012 and 2014, we herein document the occurrence of In the most recent checklist of reptiles and amphibians nine additional species of freshwater turtles in Binh of Vietnam, Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen (2009) reported Dinh Province. three species of turtles from Binh Dinh Province, namely Mauremys annamensis (Siebenrock), Materials and Methods Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus), and Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz). Hendrie et al. (2011) recorded Seven field surveys, seven to ten days each, were seven species of freshwater turtles from this province, conducted in July, September and November 2012; viz. Cuora bourreti Obst and Reimann, Cuora mouhotii February, March and May 2013; and January 2014 in (Gray), Cyclemys pulchristriata Fritz, Gaulke and 11 districts of Binh Dinh Province: An Lao, An Nhon, Lehr, Cyclemys tcheponensis (Bourret), Indotestudo Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, Phu Cat, Phu My, Quy Nhon, Tay elongata (Blyth), Pelodiscus sinensis (Wiegmann), and Son, Tuy Phuoc, Van Canh, and Vinh Thanh (Fig. 1). Pelochelys cantorii Gray. However, the presence of P. Species records were based on the direct observation or cantorii in Binh Dinh Province needs to be confirmed by remains (e.g., carapaces and skulls) of turtle specimens further studies because we have not found any evidence in villager’s houses. of the presence of this species during our field trips. Morphological characters: Photographs and In addition, Guicking et al. (2002) regarded Cyclemys morphological measurements were taken with a tape tcheponensis as a subspecies of C. shanensis Annandale in the wild and individuals were released immediately but Stuart and Fritz (2008) subsequently considered at the site of capture. Morphometric variables are both C. shanensis and C. tcheponensis as synonyms of abbreviated as follows: SCL: carapace length (minimum C. oldhamii. At present, a total of nine species of turtles straight line carapace length), CW: maximum carapace have been recorgnized from Binh Dinh Province. width, CH: maximum carapace height, PL: plastron length (from anterior-most end to posterior-most end of the plastron), TaL: tail length (from posterior margin of cloaca to the tip of tail). Species identification follows Ernst and Babour (1989), Lehr et al. (1998), Stuart and 1 College of Education, Hue University, 34 Le Loi Road, Fritz (2008), Stuart et al. (2001), Hendrie et al. (2011), Hue City, Vietnam; E-mails: [email protected], and Ly et al. (2011). [email protected] 2 Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Results Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam; E-mail: [email protected] Results of our field surveys confirmed the occurrence * Corresponding author of the six species of freshwater turtles which were 738 Loi Duc Duong et al. was found on 27 March 2013 by L. D. Duong in the forest of An Lao mountain, An Hung Commune, An Lao District (14o39.033’N, 108o54.588’E, elevation 57 m above sea level (a.s.l.)). Another individual, sex unknown, was seen in a trader’s house on 7 March 2013 in Vinh Kim Commune of Vinh Thanh District. Morphological characters. Weight 163 g; head very large; carapace flat (SCL: 96 mm, CW: 72.7 mm, CH: 39 mm); plastron notched posteriorly (PL: 75 mm); tail very long (TaL: 99 mm), covered with large scales; toes webbed. Coloration in presevative: head and carapace yellowish brown; neck grayish brown dorsally, yellow ventrally; plastron light brown; forelimbs light brown, covered with large scales; hind limbs brown with a row of large scales along the inner and outer borders and on the heel. Distribution. In Vietnam, Platysternon megacephalum has been recorded from Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces in the North southwards to Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009). Elsewhere, Figure 1. Map showing the survey site (black square) in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. previously reported in Binh Dinh Province: Cuora bourreti, Cuora mouhotii, Mauremys annamensis, Cyclemys pulchristriata, Indotestudo elongata, and Pelodiscus sinensis. Two species of sea turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata and Lepidochelys olivacea were reported from Binh Dinh Province based on interviews with local people. In addition, we recorded nine species of freshwater turtles for the first time from Binh Dinh Province. Taxonomic accounts Family Platysternidae Platysternon megacephalum Gray, 1831 Big-headed Turtle / Rua dau to (Fig. 2) Figure 2. A juvenile of Platysternon megacephalum from An Hung Commune, An Lao District, Binh Dinh Province: A) Specimen examined. A dead juvenile (CLBH.13118) dorsal view and B) ventral view. New records of turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam 739 stripe, bordered in yellow, present on each side, from tip of snout, above the nostril and the orbit to the neck; two other yellow stripes present on each side of the head; carapace dark olive; plastron light brown with black spot toward the outside of each scute; marginals yellowish brown, each with black spot along outer border. Distribution. In Vietnam, C. amboinensis has been recorded from some central and southern provinces: Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Long An, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009). Elsewhere, this species is known from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Brunei, and the Philippines (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009; Uetz and Hošek, 2014). Figure 3. An adult female of Cuora amboiensis from Nhon Khanh Commune, An Nhon District, Binh Dinh Province: A) dorsolateral view and B) ventral view. this species is known from China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009; Uetz and Hošek, 2014). Family Geoemydidae Cuora amboinensis (Daudin, 1802) Malayan Box Turtle / Rua hop lung den (Fig. 3). Specimen examined. One adult female was captured on 28 March 2013 by L. D. Duong near a lake in Nhon Khanh Commune, An Nhon Township (13o37.120’N, 108o59.587’E, elevation 15 m a.s.l.). Morphological characters. Weight 850 g; carapace high-arched (SCL: 181 mm, CW: 127.5 mm, CH: 83.5 mm), vertebral keel present, posterior notch absent; marginals not serrated; plastron large (PL: 175.2 mm), Figure 4. An adult male of Cuora picturata from Canh completely covered carapacial openings, without medial Lien Commune, Van Canh District, Binh Dinh Province: A) anal notch. Coloration in life: head dark olive; a black dorsolateral view and B) ventral view. 740 Loi Duc Duong et al. Cuora picturata Lehr, Fritz & Obst, 1998 Vietnamese Box Turtle/ Rua hop tran vang mien nam (Fig. 4). Specimens examined. One adult male was captured on 27 May 2013 by L. D. Duong in forest of Canh Lien Commune, Van Canh District (13o37.120’N, 108o59.587’E, elevation 60 m a.s.l.). Three other individuals were observed in Canh Thuan Commune, Van Canh District in the house of a local trader. Morphological characters. Weight 820 g; carapace high-domed (SCL: 152 mm, CW: 120 mm, CH: 93 mm), vertebral keel indistinct; marginals not serrated; plastron large (PL: 152 mm), posteriorly round, Figure 5. A subadult of Cuora trifasciata from Vinh Son completely covered capapacial openings. Coloration in Commune, Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province: A) life: head yellowish brown with dark speckles; carapace dorsal view and B) ventral view. bright brown; a vertebral light stripe present, edged in black; a dark stripe present along upper part of pleurals; lower part of pleurals whitish yellow or light brown, sometimes with small dark spots; marginals yellowish brown with black spots; plastron light yellow with a large black blotch on each scute. Distribution. In Vietnam, C. picturata has been known from Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009; Hendrie et al., 2011). Elsewhere, this species is known from Cambodia (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009; Uetz and Hošek, 2014). Cuora trifasciata (Bell, 1825) Three-striped Box Turtle/ Rua hop ba vach (Fig. 5) Specimens examined. One subadult individual was photographed on 6 May 2013 by L. D. Duong in the house of a wildlife trader in Vinh Thanh Township, Vinh Thanh District (14o05.867’N, 108047.183’E, elevation 42 m asl.). The trader reported that this animal was collected on 15 April 2013 from K2 Village, Vinh Son Commune, Vinh Thanh District. We were not allowed to take measurements of this individual, the following morphological description is based on the photograph. Coloration in life: carapace yellowish brown with a long black vertebral stripe and two shorter lateral stripes, extending along the first three pleurals; head light brown above, darker laterally, with a dark stripe from nostril to orbit; neck and limb sockets orange; platron notched posteriorly, black with orange pattern in anterior part and lateral border. Distribution. In Vietnam, C. trifasciata has been recorded from Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces southwards to Quang Nam, Kon Tum, and Gia Lai Figure 6. An adult female of Heosemys grandis from Canh provinces (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009). Elsewhere, Lien Commune, Van Canh District, Binh Dinh Province: A) dorsal view and B) ventral view. New records of turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam 741 this species is known from China and Laos (Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen, 2009; Uetz and Hošek, 2014). Heosemys grandis (Gray, 1860) Giant Asian Pond Turtle/ Rua dat lon (Fig.
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