Asian leaf turtle

This article is about the species. For the genus collectively known as 'Asian leaf turtles', see Cyclemys.

The Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata) is a species of turtle found in Southeast Asia. They are quite common in the pet trade; their carapaces resemble that of a Cuora amboinensis hybrid.

Asian leaf turtle
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Geoemydidae
Genus:	Cyclemys
Species:	C. dentata
Binomial name
Cyclemys dentata (Gray, 1831)
Cyclemys dentata range map
Synonyms[3]
Emys hasseltii Boie, 1826 (nomen nudum) Emys dhor Gray, 1831 Emys hasselti Boie, 1831 (ex errore) Cyclemys orbiculata Bell, 1834 Cistudo diardii Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Clemmys (Clemmys) hasseltii Boie, 1835 Cistudo (Cyclemys) dentata Gray, 1844 Emys diardii Schlegel, 1849 Cyclemys dentata Gray, 1856 Cyclemys bellii Gray, 1863 Cyclemys ovata Gray, 1863 Cistudo orbiculata Giebel, 1866 Cyclemys dhor Gray, 1870 Cistudo diardi Smith, 1931 (ex errore) Cyclemys belli Smith, 1931 (ex errore) Cyclemis dentata Goode, 1967 Cyclemys ovala Taylor, 1970 (ex errore) Cyclemys dentata dentata Bonin, Devaux & Dupré, 1996 Cyclemys dentate Zhou, 2006 (ex errore)

Feeding

This species is omnivorous and feeds on vegetation and fruits, as well as mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. It is also known to be a scavenger and very often seen to take carrion. ^{[citation needed]}

Behavior

The Asian leaf turtle is quite elusive and sighting is uncommon.^[4] It is not strong swimmer preferring instead to walk on the bottom of a body of water rather than swimming freely. According to Das, the adult spends its nights on land and moves to water during the day.^[5] It will squirt its digestive system contents when it feels threatened.^[6]

Size

Asian leaf turtles can grow 6 to 9.5 inches (15 to 24 cm) long and 4.5 to 6.5 inches in width.^{[citation needed]}

Distribution

The turtle can be found in North India, North-east India (Manipur), Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, West Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Bali), Philippines (Palawan: Calamian Islands etc.), and China.^[7]

This species is found up to 1,200 m of elevation, but the depth range is unknown.^[8]