Golden coin turtle

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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 from the mainland Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces), as well as Hong Kong. The populations from other parts of Vietnam and Laos are now regarded a separate species, the Vietnamese three-striped box turtle (''C. cyclornata'').

Description

This species has three distinct black stripes on its brown carapace, with a yellow, slightly hooked upper jaw and a yellow stripe extending from the back of the mouth. The plastron is mostly black with a yellow border.

Diet

In Hong Kong, this species feeds on fish, frogs, and carrion, but remains of crabs, snails, and insects have been found in its feces. It can grow up to 25 cm (10 in).

Taxonomy

It hybridizes very easily with its relatives in captivity and in the wild, and hybrids may be fertile. Several of these have been described as new species, such as the Fujian pond turtle (''Mauremys'' × ''iversoni''), a hybrid between (usually) males of this species and females of the Asian yellow pond turtle (''Mauremys mutica''). In addition, the golden coin turtle is suspected to be a parent of the supposed species Chinese false-eyed turtle and Philippen's striped turtle.

Conservation

The species is considered critically endangered by the IUCN. It is used in folk medicine, e.g. as the key ingredient for the Chinese medicinal dessert '' guīlínggāo'' (龜苓膏); thus, it is under threat because of unsustainable hunting. It is one of the most endangered turtle species in the world, according to a 2003 assessment by the IUCN. ''C. trifasciata'' is listed among Turtle Conservation Coalition's 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles.

Farming

''C. trifasciata'' is raised on some of China's turtle farms. Based on the data from a large sample (almost one-half of all registered turtle farms in the country), researchers estimated that the turtle farmers participating in the survey had the total herd of 115,900 turtles of this species; they sold 20,600 turtles of this species per year, with the estimated value of almost US$37 million. This would make a farm-raised ''C. trifasciata'' worth almost $1,800, making them by far the most expensive species tabulated in the survey (by comparison, a common '' Pelodiscus sinensis'' raised for food would be worth under $7, and a '' Cuora mouhotii'', sold for the pet trade, around $80). Taking into account the registered farms that did not respond to the survey, as well as the unregistered producers, the total numbers must be significantly higher. Wild ''C. trifasciata'' turtles are far more valuable than farmed-raised turtles of this species to both traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and illegal wildlife traders. The gender of ''C. trifasciata'' is determined by gestation temperatures. Due to incubation temperatures at farms in warm lowlands, farms have only been able to produce females. This increased the price of wild-caught males to $20,000. Most farmed ''C. trifasciata'' turtles are hybrids, which can escape and establish populations, causing genetic pollution.

The largest ''C. trifasciata'' farming operation is said to be located in Boluo County, Guangdong. According to the farm's founder Li Yi (李艺), the farm was started in 1989 with eight wild turtles (two males and six females) bought at a local market, and now has "over 2000" turtles. According to the farm's site, captive-born turtles start breeding at 8 years of age.Liyi Gold-coin Turtle Breeding Farm: Breeding and reproduction
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References

Further reading

* Blanck, T., W.P. Mccord & M. Le (2006): On the Variability of ''Cuora trifasciata''. Edition Chimaira. 153pp.
* Buskirk, James R.; Parham, James F. & Feldman, Chris R. (2005): On the hybridisation between two distantly related Asian turtles (Testudines: ''Sacalia'' × ''Mauremys''). '' Salamandra'' 41: 21–26
PDF fulltext
* da Nóbrega Alves, Rômulo Romeu; da Silva Vieira; Washington Luiz & Gomes Santana, Gindomar (2008): Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: conservation implications. ''Biodiversity and Conservation'' 17(8): 2037–2049. (HTML abstract, PDF first page)
* Parham, James Ford; Simison, W. Brian; Kozak, Kenneth H.; Feldman, Chris R. & Shi, Haitao (2001): New Chinese turtles: endangered or invalid? A reassessment of two species using mitochondrial DNA, allozyme electrophoresis and known-locality specimens. ''Animal Conservation'' 4(4): 357–367
PDF fulltext
Erratum: ''Animal Conservation'' 5(1): 8
HTML abstract

External links

Hong Kong Reptile & Amphibian SocietySpecies 2000
Retrieved 2007-05-04

{{Taxonbar, from=Q745210

Cuora
Reptiles described in 1825
Reptiles of China
Reptiles of Hong Kong
Turtles of Asia