Burmese roofed turtle
{{Short description|Species of turtle}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Batagur trivittata.jpg
| image_caption = Female
| status = CR
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status2 = CITES_A2
| status2_system = CITES
| genus = Batagur
| species = trivittata
| authority = (Duméril & Bibron, 1835)
| synonyms =
- Emys trivittata {{small|Duméril & Bibron, 1835}}
- Batagur trivittata {{small|Theobald, 1868}}
- Kachuga peguensis {{small|Gray, 1869}}
- Kachuga trilineata {{small|Gray, 1869}}
- Kachuga fusca {{small|Gray, 1870}}
- Batagur iravadica {{small|Anderson, 1879}}
- Clemmys iravadica {{small|Boettger, 1888}}
- Kachuga trivittata {{small|Boulenger, 1889}}
- Kachuga (Pangshura) trivitata {{small|Gurley, 2003}} (ex errore)
}}
The Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata) is one of six turtle species in the genus Batagur of the family Geoemydidae.{{cite journal |title=Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status |journal=Chelonian Research Monographs |volume=5 |date=2010 |author1=Rhodin, A.G.J. |author2=van Dijk, P.P. |author3=Inverson, J.B. |author4=Shaffer, H.B. |pages=107–108 |doi=10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v3.2010 |isbn=978-0965354097 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278404030}}
It is a freshwater turtle endemic to the rivers of Myanmar.Once a common and abundant in its habitat, the species experienced a rapid decline and was believed to be extinct until two subpopulations were rediscovered in 2001 in the Chindwin and Dokhtawady rivers. By 2018, fewer than 10 mature individuals were documented. The Burmese roofed turtle is among the world's most endangered turtle species.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-28 |title=Back from the brink, baby Burmese roofed turtles make their debut |url=https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/back-from-the-brink-baby-burmese-roofed-turtles-make-their-debut/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Mongabay Environmental News |language=en-US}}
In 2007, an illegally traded Burmese roofed turtle was identified at Qingping market in Guangzhou, China, highlighting the ongoing threats of wildlife trafficking.{{cite journal |author=Kuchling, G. |year=2007 |title=China Market: Turtle market survey in China reveals disturbing number of Myanmar endemics and critically endangered species |journal=Turtle Survival Alliance Newsletter |issue=August |pages=8–9 |url=https://turtlesurvival.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/tsa_aug2007_newsletter_web.pdf}}
Morphology
Adult male and female Burmese roofed turtles can be distinguished by their morphology. Adult males exhibit an olive-green carapace with a black stripe extending from the top of the head down the neck and three additional black stripes running along the carapace. They also have a more prominently elongated tail and an ivory-white plastron (underbelly). The male's typically green head transforms to a bright chartreuse-yellow with bold black markings during the breeding season. Female Burmese roofed turtles grow significantly larger than males.{{Cite news |last=Nuwer |first=R. |author-link=Rachel Nuwer |date=2020 |title=A Turtle With a Permanent Smile Was Brought Back From Extinction |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/science/burmese-roofed-turtle-myanmar-extinction.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |work=The New York Times}} Adult females have a more uniform coloration, with the head, carapace, and plastron ranging from dark brown to grayish-black.
Diet
B. trivittata is a herbivorous turtle; it feeds primarily on the aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation found in its habitat. In captivity, B. trivitatta is fed water spinach, fish food pellets, figs when in season, and other supplemental foods as needed.
Reproduction
A female Burmese roofed turtle in captivity is estimated to reproduce for the first time at a maximum age of 14 years. A wild female is likely to reach sexual maturity at around 20 years of age. The average number of eggs laid per clutch is between 20 and 25.{{Cite journal |last1=Platt |first1=Steven G. |last2=Lwin |first2=Tint |last3=Aung |first3=Shwe Htay |last4=Platt |first4=Kaylar |last5=Rainwater |first5=Thomas R. |date=2022 |title=Batagur trivitatta (Burmese roofed turtle). Female age at first reproduction |url=https://ssarherps.org/herpetological-review-pdfs/ |journal=Herpetological Review |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=304–305 |via=Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles}} These turtles remain in a deep pool, locally known as an 'Aike,' throughout the nesting season.{{Cite journal |last1=Platt |first1=Steven G. |last2=Measures |first2=Elizabeth A. |last3=Rohr |first3=David M. |last4=Platt |first4=Kaylar |last5=Rainwater |first5=Thomas R. |date=2017 |title=Batagur Trivitatta (Burmese roofed turtle) nesting site and substrate |url=https://ssarherps.org/herpetological-review-pdfs/ |journal=Herpetological Review |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=420–421 |via=Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles}}
Threats
Because B. trivittata is an endemic species, it faces many threats to its survival. The current main threats to the Burmese roofed turtles include habitat degradation, predation, excessive egg collection, poaching of mature adults and juveniles for consumption and trade demands, pollution, fishing, and climate change through flooding and extreme weather.
Conservation
The Burmese roofed turtle is nationally protected and listed in CITES Appendix II.{{Cite web |date=14 February 2021 |title=CITES Appendices I, II and III valid from 14.02.2021 |url=https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/app/2021/E-Appendices-2021-02-14.pdf |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=CITES |page=44 }} The captive population in five zoos comprised about 1,000 individuals as of 2018. Several hundred Burmese roofed turtles are kept in the Yadanabon Zoological Gardens in Mandalay and a turtle conservation center in Lawkananda Park, Bagan. Some have been released to the wild. Following the rediscovery of the species, researchers captured several Burmese roofed turtles to establish a conservation breeding program in captivity.{{Cite web|last=Platt|first=S. |date=2015 |title=Burmese Roofed Turtles Return to the Wild |website=Turtle Survival Alliance |url=https://turtlesurvival.org/burmese-roofed-turtles-return-to-the-wild/|access-date=8 February 2022}} Health screenings of captive Burmese roofed turtles were conducted in 2014 and 2018 to prevent the transmission of pathogens to wild populations upon release.These health screenings revealed no signs of disease or physical illness, confirming that the turtles were in excellent health. {{Cite journal |last1=Calle |first1=Paul P. |last2=Raphael |first2=Bonnie L. |last3=Lwin |first3=Tint |last4=Ingerman |first4=Karen D. |last5=Perry |first5=Angela |last6=Motkowicz |first6=Brittany |last7=Brown |first7=Ania Tomaszewicz |last8=Horne |first8=Brian D. |last9=Chang |first9=Tylis Y. |last10=Seah |first10=Adeline |last11=Platt |first11=Steven G. |last12=Platt |first12=Kalyar |last13=Seimon |first13=Tracie A. |date=2021 |title=Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur Trivittata) Disease Screening in Myanmar |url=https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-zoo-and-wildlife-medicine/volume-52/issue-4/2021-0017/BURMESE-ROOFED-TURTLE-BATAGUR-TRIVITTATA-DISEASE-SCREENING-IN-MYANMAR/10.1638/2021-0017.full |journal=Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |volume=52 |issue=4 |pages=1270–1274 |doi=10.1638/2021-0017 |pmid=34998299 |issn=1042-7260}}
= Reintroductions =
Because B. trivittata is a dispersive species, reintroduction efforts are more difficult since they will start to migrate downstream for miles. Some turtles have been released into the wild without any special assistance, but have been difficult to monitor. Soft release efforts have been implemented to assist B. trivittata in acclimating to the sandbank where they are released, preventing them from traveling long distances and making monitoring efforts easier.
Two groups of 30 genetically diverse B. trivittata individuals were reintroduced into the wild at two separate locations along the Chindwin River.{{Cite journal |last1=Çilingir |first1=F. Gözde |last2=Rheindt |first2=Frank E. |last3=Garg |first3=Kritika M. |last4=Platt |first4=Kalyar |last5=Platt |first5=Steven G. |last6=Bickford |first6=David P. |date=2017 |title=Conservation genomics of the endangered Burmese roofed turtle |url=https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.12921 |journal=Conservation Biology |language=en |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=1469–1476 |doi=10.1111/cobi.12921 |pmid=28245067 |bibcode=2017ConBi..31.1469C |issn=0888-8892}} File:Burmese roofed turtles (Batagur trivittata).jpg
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Geoemydidae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q306287}}
Category:Endemic fauna of Myanmar
Category:Reptiles described in 1835
Category:Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
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