STUDBOOK RHINOCLEMMYS spp. Introduction by studbook keeper Harry Rotmans Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa (Photo F.Grünewald) Rhinoclemmys melanosterna (Photo F. Grünewald) Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Photo F. Grünewald) Introduction Recently a start has been made with a studbook for Rhinoclemmys spp. An appeal in Trionyx no. 2(3):94, a magazine of the Nederlandse Schildpadden Vereniging (NSV) (Dutch Turtle/Tortoise Society), produced several positive responses, so the minimum requirements for a new ESF-studbook were met. Because the genus Rhinoclemmys consists of several species, the new studbook will be a coordination of several registrations. The word Rhinoclemmys will be conveniently abbreviated to “R” from now on. Why this studbook? Gradually, more R. turtles are imported from Middle- and South- America. You get the impression that it is meant to become a relatively cheap alternative to protected turtle species from other parts of the world, which are illegal to trade. The clutch of eggs of the R. species are relative small compared to the greater part of the other turtle species (HOFSTRA), mostly 1 or 2 eggs. A number of R. species produces very few clutches in a year. Sooner or later this will lead to the threatening of the population in the wild. Further factors are the affection and destruction of their environment and the pet trade. R. turtles will be used as food in some places by the locals, the same situation as in Asia. Only the population of people in Asia is more dense than in Middle- and South-America, so the need for food is much higher there. Import in the future will probably not become massive, as far as we can see, because there are no farms in the countries concerned with breeding the species. At the moment, the R. species is not a protected species, but this could change rapidly. There is relatively less attention for turtles from especially Middle- America among hobbyists and scientists (SCHAFFER). That is a pity, because they are interesting animals. It is often thought that the best known subspecies R. pulcherrima manni and R. pulcherrima incisa belong to the land turtles (SCHILDE). This will obviously lead to disappointment and animal suffering. Recently, I saw R. pulcherrima manni kept as a land turtle. Exchange of knowledge and experience between reptile and amphibian keepers is one of the goals of ESF. For better readability, the word pulcherrima will be abbreviated tot “p”. In recent years, I took care of R.p. manni and R.p. incisa myself several times. The animals appeared for the most part in bad condition. Like SCHAFFER rightly says, this is probably due to the fact that the animals arrive in poor condition form their land of origin in the pet trade. This is reinforced because sometimes R.p. manni is marked as easy to keep for starting hobbyist (AUSTIN). Not everybody is of that opinion. Different R. species originate from different biotopes in Middle- and South-America: from the Yucatàn peninsula, Mexico and Belize to the utmost north to Northwest Equador, Gyana and Northeast Brazil at the utmost southern side. The demands for keeping these animals in captivity differ in several aspects, like humidity, temperature, more or less living in water. In specialist literature not much (current) information is known up to now, about keeping and breeding R. species. In the Netherlands we are on the right track. BÄNZIGER (Trionyx 2(2): 62) has excellent breeding results with R.p. manni for three years in a row and HOFSTRA has to be highly commended for his European first in breeding R. funera (Trionyx 3(1):2). As a turtle lover one would say: more of these results with more species in order to keep a healthy, genetically pure population in captivity apart from the population in the wild to keep for the future. Rhinoclemmys punctularia Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Photo’s F.Grünewald) Rhinoclemmys punctularia Taxonomy Classification of the genus Rhinoclemmys has changed considerably over time; a short explanation. Based on the results of comparative investigation on the genera of the family Bataguridae , the name Geoemyda of the turtle genus in question has been changed in the second part of the last century in Rhinoclemmys. This change was justified by the discovery of repeating specific features in this distinct group of turtles. Initially, the Latin name was written with one “m”, later this was changed in a double “m”. It would lead us to far to expand on this. Translation of the Latin names are dissimilar in different languages. In the USA, “wood turtle” is used, in Germany “erdschildkröte” (earth turtle). This last name makes us think of the link with Geoemyda. Unfortunately, Dutch translations are not yet uniform. In the nomenclature, external characteristics can be used or biotopes of origin. In cooperation with the studbook participants concerned, we will search for the right Dutch name if necessary. Sometimes annulata, rubida rubida and rubida perixantha are classified under the genus Chelopus (AUSTIN. SCHILDE). This only means that more morphological and DNA-investigations must be done. The total number of R. species and subspecies has changed also. R. lunata was reckoned by specialists as a separate species, sometimes also as a subspecies R. punctularia lunata. Now this “species” is viewed as a flat variation of R. punctularia punctularia from a certain biotope (ERNST 1989). Diademata was viewed by some people as R. punctularia diademata (PRITCHARD AND PRITCHARD & TREBBAU). As you can see, names could cause some confusion. New results from scientific work will have to clarify this further. Not very long ago (1985), a new subspecies was found: R. punctularia flammingera. Recently, a paper was mentioned on a Brazilian website in which was stated that research was under way to a possibly unknown R. species; we will wait and see. Rhinoclemmys melanosterna (Photo F.Grünewald) Rhinoclemmys melanosterna (Photo F. Grünewald) Rhinoclemmys melanosterna (Photo F. Grünewald) Studbook classification In studbook R. spp. a classification is used which is common in Europe: nine species, three of which are discerned as subspecies. An overview follows: Rhinoclemmys annulata Brown Wood Turtle “ areolata Furrowed Wood Turtle “ diademata Diadem Wood Turtle “ funera Black Wood Turtle “ melanostra Columbian Wood Turtle “ nasuta Large-nosed Wood Turtle “ pulcherimma “ “ pulcherimma Guerrero Wood Turtle “ “ manni Painted Wood Turtle “ “ incisa Honduran Wood Turtle “ “ rogerbarbouri Western Mexican Wood Turtle “ punctularia “ “ punctularia Spot-legged Turtle “ “ flammigera Upper Orinoco Spot-legged Turtle “ rubida “ “ rubida Mexican Spotted Wood Turtle “ “ perixantha Colima Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys areolata (Photo Nipon) Rhinoclemmys funereal (Photo Nipon) Registration We will start with the registration of the division R. pulcherrima ssp. and especially the best known subspecies P.p. manni and R.p. incisa. The required minimal number of studbook participants have been found for both subspecies and it appeared that the minimal number of bloodlines is present so that genetically viable breeding programs can be started. In Europe, especially in the western part, there are sufficient numbers of both subspecies in captivity. When enough studbook participants and bloodlines are presented of one of the other R. (sub)species, we will start a studbook registration for that (sub)species also. RHINOCLEMMYS PULCHERRIMA ssp. The species Pulcherrima only appears in Middle-America: the southern Sonora and Colima in Mexico, western Guatemala, all of El Salvador, almost all of Honduras, western Nicaragua and north- western Costa Rica. In the northern area the animals are flatter and broader, in the southern one narrower and more domed. This distinction leads to the description of four subspecies. From north to south: P. rogerbarbouri, pulcherrima, incisa, manni. Although it seems pretty easy to make a distinction between these subspecies, in reality it can be quite hard. The naming under photographs are not univocal; for example, compare photographs in MÜLLER and KOHLER. Naturally one has to take into account possible hybridisation of subspecies in the habitat. Furthermore, it happens regularly that in one import different subspecies are mixed and offered under one name. Especially R.p. incisa and R.p. rogerbarbouri get mixed up on a regular basis. Further investigation in this area will be worth while and will be done. Because keepers of R. species are expressly invited to present their animals for registration in order to keep the species by breeding, an attempt will hereafter be made to better identify the subspecies. Of course, colour nuances will occur and colours and patterns will diminish in older animals. Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni – Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incise/manni – Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa (Photo F. Grünewald) General characteristics of the species Pulcherrima: The top of the head has a pattern with one or two orange lines, which start square with the point of the nose, widening over the eye to the temple (the so called supratemporal lines and in some subspecies go on running intermittently to the backside. On top of the nose there is usually a dark pigment. The legs are usually roughly scaled. The carapax has a rough surface, with or without so called peacock eye pattern on the rib shields. Males are smaller and have a slightly hollowed out round plastron. The tail is relative small and with males a bit longer of course and markedly thicker. The toes do not have strongly developed webbing and end in sharp claws. R. pulcherrima pulcherrima (GRAY, 1855) Counts as main form Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima pulcherrima (Photo’s G.Müller) Head: On the light grey top of the head are only a short thin orange-red stripe extends from the point of the nose in a broad V-shape to the eyes (not behind the eyes) and one short orange-red line from eye to eye. Just under the point of the nose are one or two orange-red strips as wide as the nose (the so called moustache-shape).