Cuora mouhotii (Gray, 1862)

The Keeled Box Turtle, Cuora mouhotii, is a small (carapace length up to 250 mm), once poorly-known terrestrial species, from the mesic forests of Southeast Asia. Two subspecies have been described, and intergradient populations are known. Relatively widespread, it is apparently abundant nowhere. Clutch size ranges from 1–9 eggs. Major threats to the species are loss of forest habitat from logging and commercial trade for Traditional Chinese Medicine and food. To a lesser extent capture for local consumption and both national and international pet trade are factors threatening this species.

Cuora mouhotii mouhotii (Gray 1862)

Two currently recognized: Cuora mouhotii mouhotii which is found in India (Mouhot’s Keeled Box Turtle; southeastern China, northern Laos, northern Vietnam, possibly northern Thailand) (synonymy: Pyxidea mouhotii mouhotii) and Cuora mouhotii obsti(Obst’s Keeled Box Turtle; central and southern Vietnam) (synonymy: Pyxidea mouhotii obsti Fritz, Andreas and Lehr 1998). Records from Bangladesh, Bhutan, northeastern India, and Myanmar may refer to an undescribed lineage.

Cuora mouhotii was described by Gray (1862), based upon a series of seven syntypes from “Lao Mountains, in Siam” (presumably the Luang Prabang mountain range on the border between Thailand and Laos; King and Burke 1989). The specific epithet celebrates Henri Mouhot [1826–1861], the French explorer of Indochina who was the first Westerner to see Angkor Wat (Cambodia). The following year, Gray (1863) erected a new genus, Pyxidea, for this species; the etymology (“Pyxis-like”) presumably alludes to the similarity of the plastral hinging and pigmentation to the condition in the testudinid genus Pyxis.

Clutch size 4–8, incubation period 90–110 days.

Nesting ocurrs from May to July with a peak in mid-June. Clutch size varies between 1-7 eggs. Eggs are relatively large and brittle-shelled. Hatchlings have a CL of about 35 mm to 40 mm.

No information available

25 cm

It is a small turtle, the midline carapace length (MCL), though often about 185 mm in wild adult animals, can reach up to ca. 250 mm. Growth annuli are usually quite evident, except in the oldest individuals.

Sexual dimorphism is modest, with little difference between the dorsal aspects of adult males and females, either in terms of size or morphology. However, males have a slight plastral concavity more prominent in larger individuals, and a clearly thicker-based tail with a more distal vent.

Carapace elongated, flattened with three strong keels; vertebral broader than long. Digits half webbed; nuchal scute narrow. Upper jaw ends in beak-like structure. Plastron truncated anteriorly and notched posteriorly. Dark or mid-brown above, light brown below, generally with dark spot on each scute. Two cream or yellow stripes, edged with black, present behind eyes. Recognized Subspecies: C. m. mouhotii (Gray, 1862) and C. m. obsti (Fritz, Andreas & Lehr, 1998).

The carapace is high, rather narrow, with a clear midline dorsal keel running the length of the vertebral scutes; from this keel the carapace is considerably flattened laterally into the costal scutes on both sides where secondary keels also occur, thus providing the species with one of its common names, the Three-keeled Box Turtle. The posterior marginals are markedly serrated and scalloped anteriorly. The vertebral keel is sharp, and the lateral keels are distinct. The plastron is relatively large, with a well-formed hinge between the hyo- and hypoplastra, the lateral edges of which are close to the seam between marginals 5 and 6. The head is large, with considerable jaw adductor muscles to the rear of the head, combined with a strongly hooked upper jaw. The carapace is often dark brown but can be a variety of shades ranging from light yellow to almost black, often with darker areas just ventral to the lateral keels. The plastron is yellow, buff, or light brown, sometimes immaculate, but more often with a variable degree of dark markings.

The species can be identified by the plastral hinge and the presence of three distinct keels on the brown coloured carapace.

It is a terrestrial species. Predominantly herbivorous.

The species inhabits tropical moist forests in mountainous terrain.

Not much information is available on their behaviour in the wild. The species is well-camouflaged in the forest leaf litter floor and has a highly cryptic behavior (often hiding under leaf litter or logs or in small rocky caves). The species is rarely observed entering water, but is known to be more active during the onset of monsoon.

This species is omnivorous, at least in captivity. The species is highly carnivorous in the wild but will also take fruit. Snails and mushrooms are also major food items

The karyotype is 2n = 52. Pyxidea was synonimised under Cuora based on genetic analysis, a classification which has become widely accepted (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group 2014)

No information available

iIt inhabits forests with leaf litters. Often can be found near caves or crevices

The Keeled Box Turtle ranges over southern Bhutan, northeastern India, northern and southwestern Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and through southern China to Hainan. It also occurs in northeastern and southeastern Bangladesh and possibly northern Thailand. No records are yet reported from Cambodia but it is possible the species occurs in the extreme northeastern region

Evergreen, semi-evergreen and subtropical broadleaf forests (200-2500m above msl). Prefer forest floor with leaf litters close to streams

Population showing a decreasing trend. Patchy distribution through out Northeast India

The species does not appear to be abundant, but it has a relatively wide range. No estimates of population sizes are available. There is a scarcity of information of wild populations given the wide distribution and difficulty observing it in wild.

Decreasing

Populations of the species have declined dramatically throughout the range since the 1980's. The species is now considered rare, and small local populations are at high risks.

Local consumption as food, capture for pet trade, and for traditional Chinese medicine.

Vulnerable

The species shows severe declines in populations across its range. It is dependent on good quality evergreen tropical forest, and has been directly impacted by forest loss in its Southeast Asian range countries, persistent hunting and poaching within protected forest areas means the long-term survival of the species is at risk

IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered

Degradation and filling up of water bodies. : Local consumption as food, capture for pet trade, and for traditional Chinese medicine.

Logging of rainforests for timber or agriculture, capture for the international pet trade, capture for food and traditional medicine are all noted as factors impacting the species, and export from various nations of Southeast Asia through northern Vietnam for consumption in China for food and traditional medicine are generally considered to be the greatest threat that has reduced populations of this species.

The species is not listed in the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In Thailand, it is protected under the Wild Animals Reservation and Protection Act B.E. 2535 1992, which prohibits all trade (domestic and export) in “Protected and Reserved” wild animals. In Myanmar, it is protected under the Myanmar Fisheries Law (1993), as well as under Myanmar Wildlife Law (1994). In Laos C. mouhotii is listed as category II under the MAR Regulation 0360 (2003). In Vietnam, C. mouhotii is not listed under either of two Vietnam Government Decrees (32/2006/ND-CP and 160/2013/ND-CP).

No information available