''Sacalia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of
turtle
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked t ...
s in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Geoemydidae
The Geoemydidae (formerly known as Bataguridae) are one of the largest and most diverse families in the order Testudines (turtles), with about 70 species. The family includes the Eurasian pond and river turtles and Neotropical wood turtles. Mem ...
(formerly called Bataguridae). The genus was erected by
John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray, FRS (12 February 1800 – 7 March 1875) was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of zoologist George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray (1766–1828). The same is used for ...
in 1870.
The Sacalia is native to Southereastern China, Laos, and Vietnam. It was declared an endangered species of turtle by the IUCN Red List due to its illegal trade.
The sacalia has a carapace of dark-brown color that permits it to camouflage to its habitat. They are believed to select the area of a river that better matches their color.
Species
Two
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
are recognized.
* ''Sacalia bealei'',
Beale's eyed turtle or Beale's four-eyed turtle
* ''Sacalia quadriocellata'',
four-eyed turtle
Hybridization
What was described as a new species, ''Sacalia pseudocellata'',
Chinese false-eyed turtle, is actually a
hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
of a male ''
Cuora trifasciata
__NOTOC__
The golden coin turtle or Chinese three-striped box turtle (''Cuora trifasciata'') is a species of turtle endemic to southern China.
Distribution
The species is distributed in China, but only on the island of Hainan (it is extirpated fr ...
'' and a female ''
Sacalia quadriocellata.''
[Stuart, Bryan L. & Parham, James F. (2007)]
"Recent hybrid origin of three rare Chinese turtles"
''Conservation Genetics''. 8 (1): 169-175.
References
Further reading
*
Gray, John Edward (1870). ''Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). With Figures of the Skulls of 36 Genera''. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis). x + 120 pp. (Genus ''Sacalia'', p. 35).
Turtle genera
Taxa named by John Edward Gray
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{turtle-stub