Red-necked pond turtle

The red-necked pond turtle (Mauremys nigricans)^[2] is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae^[2] endemic to China.^[2] It is most likely restricted to Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, although pre-historic skull remains have been found in northern Vietnam and Hainan.^[4] Other common names include Kwangtung river turtle and black-necked pond turtle.^[5]

Red-necked pond turtle
Female M. nigricans
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Geoemydidae
Genus:	Mauremys
Species:	M. nigricans
Binomial name
Mauremys nigricans Grey, 1834[2]
Synonyms[3]
Emys nigracans Gray, 1856 (ex errore) Clemmys nigricans Strauch, 1862 Damonia nigricans Gray, 1869 Chinemys nigricans Fang, 1934 Geoclemys kwangtungensis Pope, 1934 Clemmys kuangtungensis Mell, 1938 (ex errore) Chinemys kwangtungensis Bourret, 1941 Geoclemys palaeannamitica Bourret, 1941 Chinemys palaeannamitica Bour, 1980 Mauremys nigricans Spinks, Shaffer, Iverson & McCord, 2004

Anatomy and morphology

A megacephalic form of the red-necked pond turtle exists, commonly called 'dumb-head'. This form is rarer than the smaller headed individuals.^[4] This species has strong sexual dimorphism with a significant size difference between males and females. The largest recorded male's carapace measured 185mm (7.2 in) in length whereas females with a size up to 298 mm (11.7 in) have been found.^[6]

References

1. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
2. Rhodin 2010, p. 000.112
3. Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 232. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755.
4. "Chinesische Rothals-Schildkröte". Turtle Island (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-03.
5. Ben Anders; John Iverson (2012). "Mauremys nigricans (Gray 1834)" (PDF). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises. ISSN 1088-7105. Retrieved 5 Feb 2016.
6. Anders, Ben (2012). "Red-Necked Pond Turtle, Chinese Red-Necked Turtle, Kwangtung River Turtle, Black-Necked Pond Turtle" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5.

• Asian Turtle Trade Working Group 2000. Chinemys nigricans. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 July 2007.

Bibliography

• Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the World 2010 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution and Conservation Status" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-12-15.