Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk). Latest update: December 29th, 2023. Taxonomy of the family Geoemydidae Bibliography of the genus Cuora Biodiversity of the family Geoemydidae Genus Cuora Asian Box Turtles Scharnierschildkröten Asiatiske Æskeskildpadder 1856 Cuora Gray (type species: Testudo amboinensis Daudin 1801) 1863 Cistoclemmys Gray (type species: Cistoclemmys flavomarginata Gray 1863; syn. Fritz & Havas 2006) 1863 Pyxiclemmys Gray (type species: Sternothaerus trifasciatus Bell 1825; syn. Fritz & Havas 2006) 1863 Pyxidea Gray (type species: Cyclemys mouhotii Gray 1862) Contents: 18 species, of which 8 (44.4%) are endemic. Endemism: 0% 100% Remarks: Some authors place flavomarginata, galbinifrons, mccordi and picturata in a separate genus, Cistoclemmys, and pani, trifasciata, yunnanensis, and zhoui in another separate genus, Pyxiclemmys, making Cuora a monotypic genus comprising only amboinensis (e.g., Vetter & Van Dijk 2006). Pyxidea has recently been synonymized with Cuora (e.g., Honda, Yasukawa, Hirayama & Ota 2002). Introduced to: Japan (Ryukyu Islands: Okinawa Islands). Distribution: E. and SE. Asia, Malay Archipelago. Reported from: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Henan, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Macau, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), East Timor, India (Andaman & Nicobar Islands [Nicobar Islands], Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland), Indonesia (Ambon, Bacan, Bali, Bangka, Belitung, Buru, Buton, Enggano, Flores, Halmahera, Haruku, Java, Kabaena, Kalimantan, Kelang, Lembata, Lombok, Natuna Islands, Nias, Obi, Riau Islands, Saparua, Seram, Simeulue, Sula Islands [Sanana], Sulawesi, Sumatra, Sumba, Sumbawa, Togian Islands, Weh, West Timor), Japan (incl. Ryukyu Islands [incl. Sakishima Islands (incl. Yaeyama Islands)]), Laos, Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia [incl. Langkawi Archipelago]), Myanmar, Philippines (Babuyan Islands [Barit, Camiguin Norte, Fuga, Pamoctan], Balabac, Batas Island, Bohol, Cagraray, Calamian Islands [Busuanga], Catanduanes, Cebu, Dinagat, Dumaran, Guimaras, Leyte, Luzon, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Pan de Azucar, Panay, Polillo, Samar, Semirara, Sibuyan, Siquijor, Sulu Islands [Basilan, Jolo, Sangasanga, Tawi-Tawi], Tablas, Verde), Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam (incl. Cat Ba Island). Cuora amboinensis Amboina Box Turtle, East Indian Box Turtle, Wallacean Box Turtle, (Malayan Box Turtle, Southeast Asian Box Turtle) Amboina-Scharnierschildkröte Amboina-æskeskildpadde, (Malayisk Æskeskildpadde) 1801 Testudo amboinensis Daudin Emys amboinensis Schweigger 1812 Terrapene amboinensis Merrem 1820 Kinosternon amboinense Bell 1825 Cistudo amboinensis Gray 1831 Cuora amboinensis Gray 1856 Cyclemys amboinensis Boulenger 1889 1801 Testudo melanocephala Van-Ernest in Daudin (Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023) Emys melanocephala Schweigger 1812 Clemmys melanocephala Fitzinger 1835 2023 Cuora amboinensis aurantiae Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders Other common names: aurantiae: Palu Box Turtle Remarks: Previously included couro, kamaroma and lineata, as well as the populations now assigned to philippinensis and praschagi (Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023). Although amboinensis, possibly representing couro, has been reported from markets in China (Guangdong, Guangxi), it has never been found in the country in the wild (Farkas & Sasvári 1992; Lau & Shi 2000). Introduced to: (under revision) Distribution: Indonesia (Ambon, Bacan, Buru, Buton, Halmahera, Haruku, Kabaena, Kelang, Obi, Saparua, Seram, Sula Islands [Sanana], Sulawesi, Togian Islands). Cuora aurocapitata Yellow-headed Box Turtle, Golden-headed Box Turtle Goldkopf-Scharnierschildkröte Gyldenhovedet Æskeskildpadde 1988 Cuora aurocapitata Luo & Zong Cuora pani aurocapitata Artner 2003 Pyxiclemmys pani aurocapitata Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 2017 Cuora aurocapitata dabieshani Blanck, Protiva, Zhou, Li, Crow, and Tiedemann Other common names: aurocapitata: Eastern Yellow-headed Box Turtle dabieshani: Western Yellow-headed Box Turtle Remarks: Previously regarded as a subspecies of pani (e.g., Blanck & Tang 2005), but revalidated as a separate species by Spinks, Thomson, Zhang, Che, Wu & Shaffer (2012). Distribution: China (Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Zhejiang). Cuora bourreti Central Indochinese Box Turtle, (Bourret's Flower-back Box Turtle, Bourret's Box Turtle) Bourrets Scharnierschildkröte Centralvietnamesisk Æskeskildpadde 1994 Cuora galbinifrons bourreti Obst & Reimann Cistoclemmys galbinifrons bourreti Bour 2002 Cuora bourreti Stuart & Parham 2004 Cistoclemmys bourreti Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 Remarks: This species has variously been regarded as a separate species (e.g., Stuart & Parham 2004; Vetter & Van Dijk 2006; Nguyen, Ho & Nguyen 2009; Teynié & David 2010) or as a subspecies of galbinifrons (e.g., Lehr, Fritz & Obst 1998; Fritz & Havas 2006; Fritz, Petzold & Auer 2006). Spinks, Thomson, Zhang, Che, Wu & Shaffer (2012) presented evidence in strong support of its validity as a separate species. Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. Cuora couro Kura Box Turtle, Sunda Box Turtle, West Indonesian Box Turtle Kura-Scharnierschildkröte Kura-æskeskildpadde 1812 Emys couro Schweigger Terrapene couro Fitzinger 1826 Cuora amboinensis couro Rummler & Fritz 1991 Cuora couro Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023 1991 Cuora amboinensis kamaroma Rummler & Fritz Cuora couro kamaroma Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023 Other common names: kamaroma: Southeast Asian Box Turtle, Siamese Box Turtle Remarks: Previously regarded as a subspecies or a synonym of amboinensis (e.g., Rummler & Fritz 1991; Ernst, Laemmerzahl & Lovich 2016). Revalidated as a separate species by Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders (2023). Distribution: Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India (Andaman & Nicobar Islands [Nicobar Islands], Indonesia (Alor, Bali, Bangka, Belitung, Enggano, Flores, Java, Kalimantan, Lembata, Lombok, Natuna Islands, Nias, Riau Islands, Simeulue, Sumatra, Sumba, Sumbawa, Weh, West Timor), Laos, Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia [incl. Langkawi Archipelago (Langkawi Island, Tuba)]), Myanmar, Philippines (Balabac, Batas Island, Calamian Islands [Busuanga], Dumaran, Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Sulu Islands [Basilan, Jolo, Sangasanga, Tawi-Tawi]), Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. Cuora couro © Rune Midtgaard Cuora cyclornata Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle, Cyclornated Box Turtle, (Vietnamese Box Turtle) Vietnamesische Dreistreifen-Scharnierschildkröte Vietnamesisk Trestribet Æskeskildpadde 2006 Cuora cyclornata Blanck, McCord & Le 2006 Cuora cyclornata meieri Blanck, McCord & Le 2017 Cuora cyclornata annamitica Blanck, Protiva, Zhou, Li, Crow, and Tiedemann Remarks: Not listed for China by Wang, Ren, Chen, Lyu, Guo, Jiang, Chen, Li, Guo, Wang & Che (2020). Other common names: annamitica: Central Vietnamese Box Turtle cyclornata: Southern Vietnamese Box Turtle meieri: Northern Vietnamese Box Turtle Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of trifasciata (e.g., Fritz & Havas 2006; Spinks, Thomson & Shaffer 2009). Treated as a valid species by Nguyen, Ho & Nguyen (2009). Validity supported by Tiedemann, Schneider, Havenstein, Blanck, Meier, Raffel, Zwartepoorte & Plath (2014). Distribution: China (Guangxi), Laos, Vietnam. Cuora evelynae Riu Kiu Yellow-margined Box Turtle Riukiu-Gelbrand-Scharnierschildkröte Ryukyu-æskeskildpadde 1990 Cuora evelynae Ernst & Lovitch Cuora flavomarginata evelynae McCord & Iverson 1991 Cistoclemmys flavomarginata evelynae Yasukawa & Ota in Ota 1999 Remarks: Previously regarded as a subspecies og flavomarginata (e.g., Fritz & Havas 2006). Status as a separate species recommended by Ernst, Laemmerzahl & Lovich (2008), but still listed as a subspecies of flavomarginata by Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk (2017). Introduced to: Japan (Ryukyu Islands: Okinawa Islands). Distribution: Japan (Ryukyu Islands: Sakishima Islands: Yaeyama Islands). Cuora flavomarginata Chinese Yellow-margined Box Turtle Chinesische Gelbrand-Scharnierschildkröte Gulrandet Æskeskildpadde 1863 Cistoclemmys flavomarginata Gray Cuora flavomarginata Günther 1864 Terrapene flavomarginata Strauch 1865 Cyclemys flavomarginata Boulenger 1889 Geoemyda flavomarginata McDowell 1964 1930 Cyclemys flavomarginata sinensis Hsü Cuora flavomarginata sinensis Bourret 1941 Cistoclemmys flavomarginata sinensis Bour 2002 Other common names: flavomarginata: Taiwan Yellow-margined Box Turtle sinensis: Chinese Yellow-margined Box Turtle Remarks: Previously included evelynae. Records from Guangdong (e.g., Xu 2007) and Guangxi are based on animals brought in from the north for the food trade (Lau & Shi 2000). Records from Hong Kong are almost certainly based on escapees from captivity (Karsen, Lau & Bogadek 1998). Distribution: China (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangxi, Henan, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Macau, Sichuan, Zhejiang), Taiwan. Cuora flavomarginata © Rune Midtgaard Cuora galbinifrons Northern Indochinese Box Turtle, Northern Flower-back Box Turtle Chinesische Scharnierschildkröte Nordvietnamesisk Æskeskildpadde 1939 Cuora galbinifrons Bourret Cistoclemmys galbinifrons Bour 1980 1958 Cyclemys flavomarginata hainanensis Li (Iverson 1992) Cuora hainanensis Zhao in Hu 1975 Cistoclemmys hainanensis Iverson 1985 Cuora flavomarginata hainanensis Obst 1985 Cuora galbinifrons hainanensis Iverson & McCord 1992 Cistoclemmys galbinifrons hainanensis Bour 2002 Other common names: hainanensis: Hainan Box Turtle Remarks: Previously included bourreti and picturata. Cuora galbinifrons serrata, described by Iverson & McCord (1992) proved to be a hybrid between mouhotii and galbinifrons (Vetter & van Dijk 2006). Distribution: China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan), Laos, Vietnam. Cuora galbinifrons © Rune Midtgaard Cuora lineata Burmese Box Turtle, Myanmar Box Turtle Burmesische Scharnierschildkröte, Myanmar-Scharnierschildkröte Burmesisk Æskeskildpadde 1998 Cuora amboinensis lineata McCord & Philippen Cuora lineata Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023 Remarks: Previously regarded as a subspecies or a synonym of couro kamaroma (e.g., Ernst, Laemmerzahl & Lovich 2016). Raised to species status by Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders (2023). Distribution: India (Manipur), Myanmar. Cuora mccordi Guangxi Box Turtle, (McCord's Box Turtle) McCords Scharnierschildkröte Guangxi-æskeskildpadde 1988 Cuora mccordi Ernst Cistoclemmys mccordi Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 Remarks: Zhou, Blanck, McCord & Li (2008) presented information indicating that mccordi is not of hybrid origin, as it had been suggested. The description of this species was based on animals from food markets or the pet trade, therefore, the type locality (and consequently, the known range), Guangxi, could be in error (Lau & Shi 2000; Fritz & Havas 2006). McCord & Iverson's (1991) correction of the type locality to Yunnan was not supported by any voucher material, so this restriction remains unconfirmed. Although Zhou, Blanck, McCord & Li (2008) found evidence suggesting that mccordi most likely occurs naturally in Guangxi, no actual mccordi have ever been collected from the wild (Fritz & Havas 2006; Spinks, Thomson, Zhang, Che, Wu & Shaffer 2012). Until further information becomes available, Guangxi is here considered the natural distribution of mccordi, following Zhou, Blanck, McCord & Li (2008). Distribution: China (Guangxi). Cuora mouhotii Keeled Box Turtle, Jagged-shelled Turtle, Keel-backed Terrapin, Indian Thorn Turtle, Assam Pond Turtle Dornschildkröte Kølet Æskeskildpadde 1862 Cyclemys mouhotii Gray Pyxidea mouhotii Gray 1863 Emys mouhotii Strauch 1865 Geoemyda mouhoti McDowell 1964 Cuora mouhotii Honda, Yasukawa, Hirayama & Ota 1998 Pyxidea mouhotii obsti Fritz, Andreas & Lehr Cuora mouhotii obsti Artner 2003 Other common names: mouhotii: Northern Keeled Box Turtle obsti: Southern Keeled Box Turtle Remarks: Most recent authors regard Pyxidea as a synonym of Cuora (e.g., Honda, Yasukawa, Hirayama & Ota 2002; Fritz & Havas 2006). Although listed for Guangdong by several authors (e.g., Lau & Shi 2000; Zhao & Adler 1993), it was not included by Xu (2007). Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan), India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland), Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam (incl. Cat Ba Island). Cuora pani Shaanxi Box Turtle, (Pan's Box Turtle) Pans Scharnierschildkröte Shaanxi-æskeskildpadde 1984 Cuora pani Song Pyxiclemmys pani Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 1987 Cuora chriskarannarum Ernst & McCord (McCord & Iverson 1991, Iverson 1992) Other common names: chriskarannarum: Green Box Turtle Remarks: Previously included aurocapitata. Records from Yunnan (e.g., Iverson 1992; Zhao & Adler 1993; Lau & Shi 2000) are doubtful (Parham & Li 1999; Fritz & Havas 2006). Distribution: China (Chongqing, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan). Cuora philippinensis Philippine Box Turtle Philippinen-Scharnierschildkröte Filippinsk Æskeskildpadde 2023 Cuora philippinensis Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders Remarks: Previously regarded as a population of amboinensis (Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023). Distribution: Philippines (Babuyan Islands [Barit, Camiguin Norte, Fuga, Pamoctan], Bohol, Cagraray, Catanduanes, Cebu, Dinagat, Guimaras, Leyte, Luzon, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Pan de Azucar, Panay, Polillo, Samar, Semirara, Sibuyan, Siquijor, Tablas, Verde). Cuora picturata Southern Indochinese Box Turtle, Southern Flower-back Box Turtle, Vietnamese Box Turtle Südvietnamesische Scharnierschildkröte Sydvietnamesisk Æskeskildpadde 1998 Cuora galbinifrons picturata Lehr, Fritz & Obst Cistoclemmys galbinifrons picturata Bour 2002 Cuora picturata Stuart & Parham 2004 Cistoclemmys picturata Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 Remarks: This species has variously been regarded as a separate species (e.g., Stuart & Parham 2004; Vetter & Van Dijk 2006; Nguyen, Ho & Nguyen 2009) or as a subspecies of galbinifrons (e.g., Lehr, Fritz & Obst 1998; Fritz & Havas 2006; Fritz, Petzold & Auer 2006). Spinks, Thomson, Zhang, Che, Wu & Shaffer (2012) presented evidence in strong support of its validity as a separate species. Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. Cuora praschagi Assam Box Turtle Aßam-Scharnierschildkröte Indisk Æskeskildpadde 2023 Cuora praschagi Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders Remarks: Previously regarded as a population of amboinensis (Blanck, Gaillard, Protiva, Wheatley, Shi, Liu, Ray & Anders 2023). Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland), Cuora trifasciata Northern Three-striped Box Turtle, Chinese Three-banded Box Turtle, Chinese Wood Turtle Nördliche Dreistreifen-Scharnierschildkröte Nordlig Trestribet Æskeskildpadde 1825 Sternothaerus trifasciatus Bell Emys trifasciata Gray in Griffith 1831 Cistuda trifasciata Gray 1831 Cistudo trifasciata Gray 1844 Cuora trifasciata Gray 1856 Pyxidemys? trifasciata Fitzinger 1861 Terrapene trifasciata Strauch 1862 Cyclemys trifasciata Boulenger 1889 Pyxiclemmys trifasciata Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 2017 Cuora trifasciata luteocephala Blanck, Protiva, Zhou, Li, Crow, and Tiedemann Other common names: trifasciata: Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle luteocephala: Hainan Three-striped Box Turtle Remarks: Previously included cyclornata. Introduced to: Taiwan. Distribution: China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong, Macau). Cuora trifasciata © Rune Midtgaard Cuora yunnanensis Yunnan Box Turtle Yunnan-Scharnierschildkröte Yunnan-æskeskildpadde 1906 Cyclemys yunnanensis Boulenger Cuora yunnanensis Smith 1931 Pyxiclemmys yunnanensis Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 Remarks: Until recently known from only twelve specimens discovered more than hundred years ago. He, Zhou, Rao & Zhang (2007) presented evidence that the species is still surviving, based on three newly discovered individuals. See also Zhou & Zhao (2004), Blanck (2005), and Vetter & van Dijk (2006). Distribution: China (Yunnan). Cuora zhoui Southern Chinese Box Turtle, (Zhou's Box Turtle) Zhous Scharnierschildkröte Sydkinesisk Æskeskildpadde 1990 Cuora zhoui Zhao Pyxiclemmys zhoui Vetter in Vetter & van Dijk 2006 1991 Cuora pallidicephala McCord & Iverson (Iverson 1992, Parham, Simison, Kozak, Feldman & Shi 2001) Remarks: The distribution of this species is uncertain. Most specimens were found in markets in the provinces Guangxi and Yunnan, but because turtles sold in markets are often transported far from where they were caught, there is no evidence that they occur in the wild in these provinces. Therefore, the type locality could be in error (Lau & Shi 2000; Fritz & Havas 2006). The native distribution is herein provisionally considered to be Vietnam and China (Guangxi, Yunnan), but wild-caught specimens are needed to confirm this. Distribution: China (Guangxi, Yunnan), Vietnam.