Yellow-headed temple turtle explained

The yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii) is a large species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

Etymology

The common name, "yellow-headed temple turtle", is derived from the fact that it is often found near Buddhist temples within its range.

The specific name, annandalii, is in honor of Scottish herpetologist Nelson Annandale.^[1]

Description

H. annandalii may grow to over 20 in (51 cm) in straight carapace length.

Behavior

H. annandalii is aquatic, and is generally herbivorous.

Conservation status

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) suspended trade of yellow-headed temple turtles in July 2012.^[2]

Geographic range

H. annandalii is found in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Myanmar.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of H. annandalii are wet forests and freshwater wetlands.

Captivity

H. annandalii may live in captivity for up to 35 years.

Two turtles were hatched in November 2019 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Heosemys annadali has been breed in captivity.^[3]

Parasites

The leech Placobdelloides siamensis is an ectoparasite of this turtle.^[4]

External links

Bibliography

• Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status. Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. 2011-12-31. Rhodin, Anders G.J.. van Dijk, Peter Paul. Iverson, John B.. Shaffer, H. Bradley. Bour, Roger. https://web.archive.org/web/20120131102839/http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v4_2011.pdf. live. 2012-01-31.
• Vertebrate Zoology. Checklist of Chelonians of the World. 2007. Fritz, Uwe. Havaš, Peter. 57. 2. 149–368 . 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 . free .

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1903). "Report on the Batrachians and Reptiles". pp. 131–178. In: Annandale N, Robinson HC (1903). Fasciculi Malayenses: Anthropological and Zoological Results of an Expedition to Perak and the Siamese Malay States, 1901-1902. Zoology, Part I. London, New York and Bombay: Longmans, Green & Co. for The University Press of Liverpool. 189 pp. (Cyclemys annandalii, new species, pp. 142–144 + Plates VII-VIII).
• Chan-ard, Tanya; Parr, John W.K.; Nabhitabhata, Jarujin (2015). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand. New York: Oxford University Press. 314 pp. (hardcover), (paperback).
• Smith MA (1931). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I.—Loricata, Testudines. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxviii + 185 pp. + Plates I-II. ("Hieremys annandalei [sic]", pp. 107–109, Figures 24-25).

Notes and References

1. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Hieremys annandalii, p. 9).
2. Web site: Times-Tribune CITES 2012. 27 July 2012 .
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20200108084641/https://www.asianturtleprogram.org/pages/TCC/2013-04-H_annandalii_hatchlings/H_annandalii_2013.htm "Yellow-headed temple turtles hatch at the Turtle Conservation Centre in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam"
4. Chiangkul. Krittiya. Trivalairat. Poramad. Purivirojkul. Watchariya. Redescription of the Siamese shield leech Placobdelloides siamensis with new host species and geographic range. Parasite. 25. 2018. 56. 1776-1042. 10.1051/parasite/2018056. 30474597 . 6254108.