Keeled box turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keeled box turtle |
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| C. m. mouhotii | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cuora
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| Species: |
mouhotii
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| Synonyms | |
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The keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii) is a special type of turtle known for its unique shell. It belongs to the family called Geoemydidae. This turtle is found only in Asia, meaning it is endemic to that continent.
Contents
- Where Do Keeled Box Turtles Live?
- What Are Its Other Names?
- Why Is It Called That?
- Understanding Keeled Box Turtle Types
- What Does a Keeled Box Turtle Look Like?
- Keeled Box Turtle Life Cycle and Habits
- What Do Keeled Box Turtles Eat?
- Where Do Keeled Box Turtles Live? (Habitat)
- Why Are Keeled Box Turtles Endangered?
- Images for kids
Where Do Keeled Box Turtles Live?
The keeled box turtle, also known as C. mouhotii, lives in several countries across Asia. You can find them in Burma, China, India, Laos, and Vietnam. They also live in Bhutan and Thailand.
What Are Its Other Names?
Besides keeled box turtle, this animal has a few other common names. People sometimes call it the keel-backed terrapin. It's also known as the jagged-shelled turtle because of its shell's shape. Another name is Mouhot's turtle.
Why Is It Called That?
The scientific name mouhotii was given to honor Alexandre Henri Mouhot. He was a French naturalist and explorer who studied nature.
One of its subspecies is named obsti. This name honors Fritz Jürgen Obst, a German scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians.
Understanding Keeled Box Turtle Types
Scientists sometimes thought the keeled box turtle was the only species in its own group, called Pyxidea. However, studies of its mitochondrial DNA show it's actually part of the "Cuora group." This means it's closely related to other Asian box turtles.
Because of this, scientists now believe Pyxidea should be grouped with Cuora. This makes the keeled box turtle officially part of the Cuora genus. Its body shape is also very similar to other Cuora species. Plus, it can even mate with the Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons).
Recognized Subspecies
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the keeled box turtle:
- Cuora mouhotii mouhotii (first described by Gray in 1862)
- Cuora mouhotii obsti (first described by Fritz, Andreas & Lehr in 1998)
If you see a name in parentheses after a subspecies, it means it was first described under a different genus name.
Hybridization in the Wild
In southern Vietnam, keeled box turtles live near another turtle called Cuora picturata. Since Cuora mouhotii is known to mate with close relatives of Cuora picturata, it's possible they might also mate in the wild.
What Does a Keeled Box Turtle Look Like?
The keeled box turtle has a unique upper shell, called a carapace. It has three big, raised ridges and a jagged, saw-like edge at the back. The lower shell, or plastron, can be light brown to dark brown.
Its upper jaw is strong, and its snout is short and curved. The feet are only partly webbed. This suggests they spend most of their time on land, not in water.
Telling Males and Females Apart
You can often tell male and female keeled box turtles apart by their eyes and nails.
- Males usually have longer, thicker nails. Their eyes are typically black or brown.
- Females generally have shorter, thinner nails. Their eyes are often orange or red.
Keeled Box Turtle Life Cycle and Habits
Scientists don't know a lot about the daily lives of keeled box turtles.
In one study, adult males and females had an average shell length of about 15 to 17 centimeters (6 to 7 inches).
Reproduction
The breeding season for these turtles is from May through September. Females usually lay about four smooth, white eggs in a clutch. These eggs are about 4.4 centimeters (1.7 inches) long. They typically lay two clutches during one breeding season.
Like many other turtles, keeled box turtles don't care for their young after the eggs hatch. Females dig nests with their back legs and cover the eggs with soil. They also sometimes lay eggs under fallen leaves.
Male keeled box turtles can be quite aggressive during mating. They might chase and even injure a female until she accepts their advances.
What Do Keeled Box Turtles Eat?
The keeled box turtle is mostly a herbivorous animal. This means it eats plants. In nature, they enjoy a variety of plants, especially wild fallen fruits. Sometimes, they will also eat worms, snails, and other small bits of meat.
Where Do Keeled Box Turtles Live? (Habitat)
The keeled box turtle is a land-dwelling species. They are often found hiding in small caves and cracks in rocks. You can also find them in forests, buried deep in layers of fallen leaves.
Why Are Keeled Box Turtles Endangered?
The keeled box turtle is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This means their numbers are decreasing and they are at high risk of disappearing.
Their population has dropped sharply in some areas, especially in Vietnam. This is because people catch them for food and to sell as pets. Vietnam has even legally exported many of them.
Other big threats include deforestation, which destroys their homes. Hunting is also a major problem. People collect them from the wild for food and for use in traditional medicine. They are eaten locally and sold internationally for both food and the pet trade.
In China, some keeled box turtles are bred in captivity for the pet trade. This helps to reduce the number taken from the wild.
Images for kids
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C. m. mouhotii, showing its lower shell (plastron).
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C. m. obsti, showing its lower shell (plastron).
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A male C. m. obsti.
