Asian Turtle
These turtles vary in colour and appearance but all are characterised by having a hinged lower shell which can be folded up when the head is withdrawn, protecting it from predators. Some turtles are reddish brown, while others are a yellow to olive colour, often with black edging on the carapace. They are generally nocturnal, hiding in the day under leaf matter or in holes they dig in the ground. They can move quite rapidly on land.
What they eat
Aquatic plants, molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fallen fruits and vegetation, soft invertebrates such as worms and slugs.
How long they live
Depending on species, life expectancy may be over 70 years.
Biology
Some Asian turtle varieties have an elaborate courtship behaviour where the male and female face each other with outstretched necks and move their heads in the shape of an infinity symbol. Breeding seasons are generally from January to early spring, which hatchlings being entirely aquatic in their early stages. Their survival rate is low as they are preyed upon by larger species such as lizards, herons and small mammals.
Did you know?
The shell of the Golden Coin Box Turtle is mistakenly believed to be a cure for cancer.
Tens of millions of turtles are sold in China each year as food and as ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine recipes.
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Species Profile
Common name
Asian Box Turtles
Scientific name
Species of the genus Cuora
(including two species held here at the zoo - Cuora trifasciata,and Cuora zhoui.)
Animal group/type
Reptile - turtle
Where they live
Asia, including China, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia.
Habitat
Marshes, swamps, pools, ponds; warm aquatic environments.
Size
Varies between species – from 12-25cm in shell length
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
Critically Endangered (Cuora trifasciata and Cuora zhoui).
Threats
Over collection for the food and pet trade. Turtle recipes are considered a delicacy in many parts of Asia where turtle soup often appears on restaurant menus.
Slow reproductive rates in the wild mean the turtle population is not breeding fast enough to replace those being taken. In some areas they are verging on extinction.
Habitat loss and deforestation due to agricultural, industrial and urban development.