Southern river terrapin

Southern river terrapin
(Batagur affinis) from a gazetted conservation site at Kuala Berang, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Batagur
Species: B. affinis
Binomial name
Batagur affinis
(Cantor, 1847)[1]

The southern river terrapin (Batagur affinis)[1] is a turtle of the family Geoemydidae found in Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia.[2]

Subspecies

Decline

Many Asian turtles are in danger because of the thriving trade in animals in the region, where a species' rarity can add to its value on a menu or as a traditional medicine.

The species was thought to have disappeared from Cambodia until it was rediscovered in 2001. Conservationists eventually began tagging the animals with tracking devices and monitoring their nests, and King Norodom Sihamoni personally ordered their protection.[3] Its eggs were a delicacy of the royal cuisine of Cambodia; In 2005, it was designated the national reptile of the Cambodia in an effort to bring awareness and conservation for this species.[4]

In Malaysia, rivers of Kedah, Perak and Terengganu are major nesting grounds though the population continues to crash despite conservation efforts undertaken by Malaysian Wildlife Department for over 20 years. Pasir Temir and Pasir Lubuk Kawah by the Terengganu River are the largest nesting sites for Batagur baska in the world.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Rhodin 2010, pp. 000.107
  2. 1 2 3 Rhodin 2010, pp. 000.107-000,108
  3. Platt, S.G.; Bryan L. Stuart; Heng Sovannara; Long Kheng, Kalyar and Heng Kimchhay (2003) "Rediscovery of the critically endangered river terrapin, Batagur baska, in Cambodia, with notes on occurrence, reproduction, and conservation status" Chelonian Conservation and Biology 4(3): 691
  4. ROYAL DECREE on Designation of Animals and Plants as National Symbols of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Bibliography
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.