STUDBOOK BREEDING PROGRAMME

Cuora amboinensis Malayan box turtle*

Adult Cuora amboinensis amboinensis eating pear

Report September 2002 – April 2004

Merijn Kerlen, species coordinator

* Malayan box turtle is also known as Southeast Asian box turtle or Amboina box turtle.

Introduction

Since the last report, September 2002, a lot has changed in a negative but also in a positive way. Many adult Cuora’s died. Most of them where from the big confiscation at Hong Kong, December 2001. Happily also the first offsprings were born from these confiscated animals. The number of locations decreased, mostly because of rearranging the confiscated animals. 4 Different subspecies are known (amboinensis, couro, kamaroma and lineate). Except lineata, all subspecies are present in the studbook. Most of them are subspecie kamaroma followed by amboinensis. Hopefully also lineata will be becoming a member of the studbook. Many eggs have been laid at several locations. At most locations these were not fertilized. One locations will stop breeding the eggs because they had many offsprings the last few years. Many of these are also present in this studbook. Nowadays it’s difficult to move these offsprings to other locations because off a lack of interest.

Studbook population

Date Locations Specimens Birth Death

1999 7 36 (9, 12, 15) 2 ? 2000 10 47 5 1 2001 14 55 (13, 16, 26) 4 2 Till 09-2002 26 109 (31, 44, 34) 8 25 Till 04-2004 23 111 (27, 41, 43) 11*) 20**)

*) 11 Births have been reported of confiscated females (Hong Kong, december 2001) at two locations. One location produced 10 eggs from 2 or 3 females. All these eggs hatched. **) 20 Deaths have been reported. Most of them (191)) from confiscated animals.

1) 2 from the confiscation of January 2001 and 17 from the big confiscation of December 2001.

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Transfers

Date Transfers

1999 2 2000 5 2001 9 Till 09-2002 68 Till 04-2004 19

Most tranfers are because of rearranging the confiscated animals of December 2001.

Discussion

The studbook seems to be stable at the moment. But there’s a lack of knowledge about the exact subspecies at many locations. Because of this some subspecies, present in this studbook, could really be critical. More information about this is necessary. Also hybrids of several subspecies are known from one location. At this location a group of several different subspecies is kept together. Happily there are also hatchlings from some new locations. In the past all hatchlings where from Rotterdam Zoo. Most Cuora’s are from the subspecie kamaroma. Also all new offsprings are from this subspecie. Many eggs are laid, also at other locations. So in future time there will hopefully be some more offsprings. The problem is there is a small market for juvenile kamaroma’s so this good be a problem. Other subspecies are rare at the moment. There are some (new) people looking for amboinensis and couro subspecies but it’s difficult to help them. Almost all animals which died are confiscated animals. Most of them are from the big confiscation of December 2001. Their health was not as good as it seemed to be in the beginning. Most of them died because of pneumonia or other lung problems. The population of the remaining confiscated animals of December 2001 is critical. The reason is the variation of subspecies and sex, see table shown below.

C.a. kamaroma C.a. kamaroma or couro *) male Female Male Female

2 11 4 7

*) At the moment 11 animals are subspecie couro or kamaroma. It’s not yet sure which subspecie they exactly are.

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References

· Ernst, C.H. & R.W. Barbour, 1989. Turtles of the world: 147. · Filella, E., 1999. Cuora amboinensis and its subspecies. Reptilia (English edition) 9: 65-69. · Hofstra, J., 1989. De kweek met de ambonese waterdoosschildpad (Cuora amboinensis). Lacerta 47(6): 162- 164. · Hofstra, J., 1994. Kweken met de Ambonese doosschildpad (Cuora amboinensis). Lacerta 53(1): 18-22. · McCord, W.P. & H-D. Philippen, 1998. A new subspecies of box turtle, Cuora amboinensis lineata. Reptile Hobbyist, Neptune City, N.J, 3(7): 51 - 58 · Mudde, P.M., 1987. Voortplanting van de Ambonese waterdoosschildpad (Cuora amboinensis) in het terrarium. Lacerta 45(5): 70-80. · Mudde, P.M., 1999. Breeding the Amboina Box Turtle. Cuora amboinensis kamaroma. Reptilia (English edition) 9: 60-64. · Pritchard, P.C.H., 1979. Encyclopedia of turtles: 211-213. · Rummler, H.J. & U. Fritz, 1991. Geographische Variabilität der Amboina Scharnierschildkröte Cuora amboinensis mit Beschreibung einer neuen Unterart, C.a.kamaroma. Salamandra 27(1): 17-45. · Welch, K.R.G., 1994. Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapines. A Checklist: 17-19.

May 2004 Merijn Kerlen, Species coordinator

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