View source for Keeled box turtle

{{Short description|Species of turtle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Mouhotii.jpg
| image_caption = ''C. m. mouhotii''
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status2 = CITES_A2 
| status2_system = CITES 
| status2_ref = <ref name="CITES">{{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}</ref>
| genus = Cuora
| species = mouhotii
| authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1862
| synonyms = 
;''C. m. mouhotii''
*''Cyclemys mouhotii'' <br>{{small|Gray, 1862}}
*''Pyxidea mouhotii'' <br>{{small|— Gray, 1863}}
*''Emys mouhotii'' <br>{{small|— [[Alexander Strauch|Strauch]], 1865}}
*''Cyclemys mouhoti'' [sic] <br>{{small|[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1890}} ''([[ex errore]])''
*''Pyxidea mouhoti'' <br>{{small|— [[Malcolm Arthur Smith|M.A. Smith]], 1931}}
*''Emys mouhoti'' <br>{{small|— [[René Léon Bourret|Bourret]], 1941}}
*''Pyxidea mouboti'' [sic] <br>{{small|[[Hobart Muir Smith|H.M. Smith]] & [[Louis F. James|James]], 1958}} <br>''(ex errore)''
*''Geoemyda mouhoti'' <br>{{small|— [[Samuel Booker McDowell|McDowell]], 1964}}
*''Cyclemys mouheti'' [sic] <br>{{small|[[Benoy Krishna Tikader|Tikader]] & [[Ramesh Chandra Sharma|R.C. Sharma]], 1985}} ''(ex errore)''
*''Geoemyda mouhotii'' <br>{{small|— [[Harald Artner|Artner]], 1995}}
*''Pyxidea mouhotii mouhotii'' <br>{{small|— [[Uwe Fritz|Fritz]], [[Britta Andreas|Andreas]] & [[:de:Edgar Lehr|Lehr]], 1998}}
*''Pyxidea mouhotti'' [sic] <br>{{small|[[Jakob Hallerman|Hallermann]], [[Lutz Dirksen|Dirksen]] & [[Peter Uetz|Uetz]], 1999}} <br>''(ex errore)''
*''Cuora mouhotii mouhotii'' <br>{{small|— Artner, 2003}}
;''C. m. obsti''
*''Pyxidea mouhotii obsti'' <br>{{small|Fritz, Andreas & Lehr, 1998}}
*''Pyxidea mouhotti'' [sic] ''obsti'' <br>{{small|Hallermann, Dirksen & Uetz, 1999}} <br>''(ex errore)''
*''Cuora mouhotii obsti'' <br>{{small|— Artner, 2003}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref>Fritz U, Havaš P (2007). [http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Articles/Fritz_and_Havas_2007.pdf "Checklist of Chelonians of the World".] ''Vertebrate Zoology'' '''57''' (2) 149-368.</ref>
}}

The '''keeled box turtle''' ('''''Cuora mouhotii'''''; [[synonym (taxonomy)|syn.]] ''Pyxidea mouhotii'') is a [[species]] of [[turtle]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Geoemydidae]]. The species is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Asia]].

==Geographic range==
''C. mouhotii'' occurs in [[Bangladesh]],<ref>https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163414/1006285</ref> [[Myanmar]] (Burma), [[China]], [[India]], [[Laos]], and [[Vietnam]],<ref name=iucn>Asian Turtle Trade Working Group (2000). [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/163414/0 "''Cuora mouhotii'' ".] [[IUCN]] Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. Downloaded on 20 October 2013.</ref> and also in [[Bhutan]] and [[Thailand]].<ref name=rd>[http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Cuora&species=mouhotii ''Cuora mouhotii''.] The Reptile Database.</ref>

==Common names==
Other common names for ''C. mouhotii'' include '''keel-backed terrapin''', '''jagged-shelled turtle''',<ref name=iucn/> and '''Mouhot's turtle'''.<ref name="EDR"/>

==Etymology==
The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''mouhotii'', is in honor of [[Henri Mouhot|Alexandre Henri Mouhot]], a French [[Natural history|naturalist]] and [[Exploration|explorer]].<ref name="EDR">Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (''Cuora mouhotii'', p. 183; ''C. m. obsti'', p. 193).</ref>

The [[Subspecies|subspecific name]], ''obsti'', is in honor of Fritz Jürgen Obst (1939–2018), a German herpetologist.<ref name="EDR"/>

==Taxonomy==
''C. mouhotii'' is sometimes treated as the sole species of the [[monotypic taxon|monotypic genus]] ''Pyxidea''.<ref name=iucn/><ref>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=551939 ''Pyxidea mouhotii''.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).</ref><ref>Zhang L, et al. (2008). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222407 "The complete mitochondrial genome of the keeled box turtle ''Pyxidea mouhotii'' and phylogenetic analysis of major turtle groups".] ''Journal of Genetics and Genomics'' '''35''' (1): 33–40.</ref> [[Phylogenetics|Phylogenetic analysis]] using [[mitochondrial DNA]] has provided evidence that the species is part of the "''Cuora'' group", a [[monophyly|monophyletic]] group of [[Asian box turtle]]s, and the name ''Pyxidea'' should probably be synonymized with ''Cuora'', making the keeled box turtle part of that genus.<ref>Honda M, et al. (2002). [http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Articles/Honda_etal_2002a.pdf "Phylogenetic relationships of the Asian box turtles of the genus ''Cuora sensu lato'' (Reptilia: Bataguridae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences".] ''Zoological Science'' '''19''': 1305-1312.</ref> Other phylogenetic studies of ''Cuora'' support this conclusion.<ref name=stu>Stuart BL, Parham JF (2004). [http://bryanlstuart.com/site/Publications_files/Stuart%20%26%20Parham%202004.pdf "Molecular phylogeny of the critically endangered Indochinese box turtle (''Cuora galbinifrons'')".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304043835/http://bryanlstuart.com/site/Publications_files/Stuart%20%26%20Parham%202004.pdf |date=4 March 2018 }} ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '''31''' (1): 164–777.</ref> In addition, its [[morphology (biology)|morphology]] is not distinct enough from that of ''Cuora'' species to keep it separate, and it is known to [[hybrid (biology)|hybridize]] with ''[[Indochinese box turtle|Cuora galbinifrons]]''.<ref name=stu/>

==Subspecies==
There are two subspecies which are recognized as being valid.<ref name=iucn/><ref name=rd/><ref>Fritz U, et al. (1998). "''Eine neue Unterart der Dreikiel-Scharnierschildkröte'', Pyxidea mouhotii ''(Gray, 1862)'' ". ''Zool. Abh. Mus. Tierkd. Dresden'' '''50''': 33-43. (in German, with an abstract in English).</ref>
*''Cuora mouhotii mouhotii'' {{small|([[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1862)}}
*''Cuora mouhotii obsti'' {{small|[[Uwe Fritz|Fritz]], [[Britta Andreas|Andreas]] & [[:de:Edgar Lehr|Lehr]], 1998}}

''[[Nota bene]]'': A [[Trinomen|trinomial authority]] in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Cuora''.

==Hybridization==
The southern Vietnamese population of ''Cuora mouhotii'' lives alongside ''Cuora picturata''. Since ''Cuora mouhotii'' is known to hybridize with the closest living relatives of ''Cuora picturata'' (''[[Cuora galbinifrons]]'' and ''[[Cuora bourreti]]'' ) there is a possibility of hybridization in the wild between these two populations.<ref>Ly, Tri; Huy Duc Hoang; Stewart, Bryan L. (2013). "Occurrence of the endangered keeled box turtle, ''Cuora mouhotii'', in Southern Vietnam." bioone.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2744/CCB-0964.1>.</ref>

==Description==
The keeled box turtle's upper shell ([[carapace]]) has three large, raised ridges and is serrated on the back end.  The lower shell ([[plastron]]) is different variations of brown in color, ranging from light brown to dark brown.  The upper jaw is strong, while the snout is short and curved. The feet are only partially webbed, which suggest a [[terrestrial locomotion|terrestrial]] lifestyle as opposed to an aquatic one.

Male and female keeled box turtles can be distinguished by the color of their eyes as well as their nails.  A male generally has longer and thicker nails than a female, and eyes that are either black or brown.  A female generally has shorter, thinner nails, and eyes that are orange or red.<ref>"Keeled box turtle (''Cuora mouhotii'' )". Keeled box turtle videos, photos and facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.arkive.org/keeled-box-turtle/cuora-mouhotii/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202626/http://www.arkive.org/keeled-box-turtle/cuora-mouhotii/ |date=29 October 2013 }}>."</ref>

==Biology==
The biology of ''C. mouhotii'' is not well known.<ref name=ji>Ji-Chao W, et al. (2011). [http://210.75.237.14/bitstream/351003/23323/1/2011e0013z.pdf "Reproduction and nesting of the endangered keeled box turtle (''Cuora mouhotii'') on Hainan Island, China".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022164354/http://210.75.237.14/bitstream/351003/23323/1/2011e0013z.pdf |date=22 October 2013 }} ''Chelonian Conservation and Biology'' '''10''' (2): 159–164.</ref>

In one survey, males and females had an average straight [[Turtle shell|carapace]] length around {{convert|15|to|17|cm|in|abbr=on}}.

The breeding season is in May through September. The average [[Clutch (eggs)|clutch size]] was four eggs, which are smooth, white, and about {{convert|4.4|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. On average they typically lay two clutches in a breeding season. Like many other turtles the keeled box turtle does not care for its young. Females have been noted to dig nests with their rear legs and cover the clutches with soil, and also to lay eggs under fallen leaves.<ref name=ji/>

The male keeled box turtle is very aggressive during the act of mating. In some instances the male turtle will chase and injure a female. The male will often persist until the female allows its advances.

==Diet==
The keeled box turtle is herbivorous, and eats a wide variety of vegetation in the natural environment, with a preference for wild fallen fruits. It will also occasionally eat worms, snails, and other meat.<ref name=ji/>

==Habitat==
The keeled box turtle is a terrestrial species, and can be frequently found in small caves and rock crevices. It can also be found in forests, in deep layers of leaves.

==Conservation status==
''C. mouhotii'' is listed as an [[endangered species]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN).<ref name=iucn/>

The population of the keeled box turtle has been on a steep decline in some areas, particularly Vietnam. This can be attributed to people capturing it for food and pets, as well as Vietnam legally exporting large numbers. Although there are other possible reasons behind this population decline, [[deforestation]] and [[hunting]] have proven to be a major threat to this turtle especially.

Threats include habitat destruction and degradation during [[deforestation]]. In parts of its range it is threatened by [[overexploitation]] as it is collected from the wild, especially for food.<ref name=cites>[http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/12/prop/E12-P28.pdf Inclusion of ''Pyxidea mouhotii'' in Appendix II in accordance with Article II 2(a) of the Convention, and satisfying Resolution Conf. 9.24, Annex 2a, Criteria A and Bi).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909234634/http://cites.org/eng/cop/12/prop/E12-P28.pdf |date=9 September 2013 }} Proposal 28. CITES. Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Santiago, Chile, 3–15 November 2002.</ref> It is also used in [[traditional medicine]].<ref>da Nóbrega Alves RR, et al. (2008). [http://www.seaturtle.org/PDF/NobregoAlvesRR_2008_BiodiversityConserv.pdf "Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: conservation implications".] ''Biodiversity and Conservation'' '''17''' (8): 2037–2049.</ref> It is consumed locally and traded internationally for the food market and the pet trade.<ref name=cites/>

In China the species is [[Captive breeding|bred in captivity]] on a small scale for the pet trade.<ref name=cites/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Pyxidea mouhotii mouhotii female plastral view.jpg|''C. m. mouhotii'', [[plastron]].
File:Pyxidea mouhotii obsti Male ventral.jpg|''C. m. obsti'', plastron.
File:Pyxidea mouhotii obsti Male.jpg|Male ''C. m. obsti''.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Bernhardt K (1995). "''Pyxidea mouhotii'' (Gray 1862)". ''J. AG Schildkr. Panzerechsen'' '''95''' (2): 7–18. (in German).
*[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1889). ''Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New Edition.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). x + 311 pp. + Plates I-III. (''Cyclemys mouhotii'', pp.&nbsp;132–133).
*Boulenger GA (1890). ''The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia.'' London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (''Cyclemys mouhoti'', p.&nbsp;31).
*[[:fr:Indraneil Das|Das I]] (2002). ''A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India''. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. {{ISBN|0-88359-056-5}}. (''Pyxidea mouhotii'', p.&nbsp;131).
*[[Albert Günther|Günther ACLG]] (1864). ''The Reptiles of British India.'' London: The Ray Society. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxvii + 452 pp. + Plates I-XXVI. (''Pyxidea mouhotii'', p.&nbsp;16 + Plate IV, figure D).
*[[Malcolm Arthur Smith|Smith MA]] (1931). ''The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I.—Loricata, Testudines.'' London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxviii + 185 pp. + Plates I-II. (''Cyclemys mouhoti'', pp.&nbsp;78–80, Figure 14).

==External links==
*[[John Edward Gray|Gray]] JE (1862). [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222936208681300?journalCode=tnah09#.UmOBjvfn_rc "Notice of a new Species of ''Cyclemys'' from the Lao Mountains, in Siam".] ''Journal of Natural History, Third Series'' '''10''': 157. (''Cyclemys mouhotii'', new species).
*Gray JE (1863). [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/69382#/summary "Observations on the Box Tortoises, with the Descriptions of Three New Asiatic Species".] ''Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London'' '''1863''': 173-179.
*Parham JF, et al. (2001). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724021637/http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/wienslab/kozakpdfs/Parham_Simison_Kozak_2001.pdf "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.{{dead link|date=July 2019}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030228030150/http://www.chelonia.org/pyxidea_gallery.htm Photo gallery: ''Pyxidea''.]}} World Chelonian Trust.

{{Geoemydidae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2391815}}

[[Category:Geoemydidae]]
[[Category:Reptiles of South Asia]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1862]]
[[Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of China]]
[[Category:Endangered Fauna of China]]