Amboina hinge turtle
| Amboina hinge turtle | ||||||||||||
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Amboina hinged turtle ( Cuora amboinensis ) |
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| Cuora amboinensis | ||||||||||||
| ( Daudin , 1801) |
The Amboina hinge turtle ( Cuora amboinensis ) is also called the Malay hinge turtle and belongs to the genus of the hinge turtle ( Cuora ) within the family of ancient pond turtles (Geoemydidae ).
description
The Amboina hinge turtle reaches a length of around 20 centimeters. The arched carapace has a dark brown color and three longitudinal keels. The longitudinal keels recede in adult animals with increasing age. The plastron is yellowish and has irregular dark spots. Like all hinged turtles, the Amboina hinged turtle can retract its extremities completely into the shell by means of a hinge in the belly shell. In the male , the belly armor is arched inwards.
The top of the head is brownish in color. The underside of the head and the throat turn yellow. A yellow longitudinal band can be seen on the top of the head that extends to the tip of the snout. Immediately below this band runs a second, wider band that is colored brown. The extremities are brown and end in strong claws that are provided with small webbed feet. The animals live as loners and defend their territories energetically against rivals. The turtle reaches an age of 30 to 40 years.
distribution
The Amboina hinged turtle is common in much of Asia . Malaysia and Indonesia are among the main distribution areas. She has been described for the Moluccan island Amboina .
The turtles prefer to live in stagnant or slow-flowing waters with a muddy bottom. The Amboina hinge turtle is largely adapted to life in the water and usually only leaves it to lay eggs and to sunbathe. It also tolerates eutrophic habitats well.
food
Insects , mollusks and fish are among their main food. They also eat plants and fruits . They do not spurn carrion either.
Reproduction
The females of the Amboina hinge turtle reach sexual maturity at five to six years of age. Males only achieve this when they are eight to nine years old. The female lays between one and three eggs on land . The eggs are about 50 millimeters long, 28 millimeters thick and weigh between 20 and 24 grams. Hatching occurs after 76 to 100 days , depending on the incubation temperature . The hatchlings weigh between ten and 15 grams.
Danger
Since 2000, the Amboina Box Turtle is in the red list of the IUCN out as an endangered species (status "vulnerable").
Web links
- Cuora amboinensis inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.4. Listed by: Asian Turtle Trade Working Group, 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- Cuora amboinensis in The Reptile Database