A large family of freshwater turtles found mainly in Asia, with the exception of Rhinoclemmys which are found in Latin America. Quite a number are seen in the pet trade, but the danger to the wild populations comes less from collecting for hobbyists than from unrestricted collecting for Asian food markets and traditional medicine.
Some of these turtles are fairly hardy and easy to keep, and it is urged that all keepers therefore do their utmost to achieve captive breeding in the light of the difficulties that some of these species are in.
Genus | Common Name | No. of species | Distribution | Notes |
Family BAGATURIDAE | ||||
Batagur | Batagur | 1 | Burma (Irrawaddy River), S Thailand, S Vietnam, West Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra), India, Bangladesh |
|
Callagur | Biuku | 1 | S Thailand, W Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo) |
|
Chinemys | Asian Pond Turtles | 3 | S China, N Vietnam, Hainan, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong | |
Cuora | Asian Box Turtles | 11 | Mainly China, also India and SE Asia inc. Philippines and Indonesia | |
Cyclemys | Leaf Turtles | 4 | China and SE Asia inc. Indonesia | |
Geoclemys | Black Pond Turtle | 1 | S Pakistan, N India, Bangladesh | Protected under CITES I. |
Geoemyda | Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle | 3 | Japan, China, Vietnam, Indonesia | |
Hardella | Brahminy River Turtle | 1 | N India, Bangladesh, Pakistan | |
Heosemys | Asian Forest Turtles | 5 | Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, India | |
Hieremys | Yellow-Headed Temple Turtle | 1 | Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia | |
Kachuga | Roofed or Tent Turtles | 7 | Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Burma, also China | |
Malayemys | Snail-Eating Turtle | 1 | S Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, probably S Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia |
|
Mauremys | Caspian, Japanese and Asian Yellow Pond Turtles | 8 | Vietnam, S Russia, S Europe, Middle East, China, S Japan, SW Europe, NW Africa, Nainan, Taiwan, Burma | |
Melanochelys | Indian Black Turtles | 2 | Indian subcontinent inc. islands, Nepal, Burma | |
Morenia | Eyed Turtles | 2 | NE India, Bangladesh, Burma, China, NW Malaysia | |
Notochelys | Malayan Flat-Shelled Turtle | 1 | Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, West Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore | |
Ocadia | Chinese Striped-Neck Turtle | 3 | China, also Vietnam | |
Orlitia | Malayan Giant Turtle | 1 | Malaysia, Indonesia | |
Pyxidea | Keeled Box Turtle | 1 | China (Hainan Island), Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, E India | |
Rhinoclemmys | Wood Turtles | 9 | Mexico, C & South America as far south as Brazil and Ecuador | |
Sacalia | Eyed Turtle | 2 | China, Vietnam | |
Siebenrockiella | Siamese Temple Turtle | 1 | S Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore |
Turtles and Tortoises of the World, David Alderton, Blandford, London 1999.
Schildkröten, Gerhard Müller, Eugen Ullmer, Stuttgart 1995.
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