Stephan Böhm Vetter, H. (2005): Turtles of the World Vol. 3. Central and South America. – Frankfurt am Main/Rodgau (Edition Chimaira/Verlag ASC), 128 pp. Wermuth, H. & R. Mertens (1961): Schildkröten – Krokodile – Brückenechsen. – Jena (Gustav Fischer Verlag), 422 pp. Wicker, R. (1984): Beobachtungen bei mehrjähriger Zucht von Phrynops geoffroanus geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) (Testudines: Chelidae). – Salamandra, Bonn, 20 (4): 185- 191. Author Stephan Böhm Kohlgasse 37 2700 Wiener Neustadt Austria E-Mail: stephan.boehm@isv.cc All photographs by Stephan Böhm if not indicated otherwise. CD-ROM Box Turtles (Terrapene) A new CD-ROM of the Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society (Baltimore, Maryland) is distributed by the German Chelonia Group. This CD-ROM presents the Eastern Box Turtle in the USA as well as a conservation project for this species. Two beautifully designed presentations show the characteristics of these remarkable animals and the measures for their protection. The accompanying texts are available in English only. If inside the European Union, you can order the CD-ROM for 6 Euro including postage via E-Mail (s.hoefler-thierfeldt@t-online.de) or ordinary mail at: S. Thierfeldt, Im Bongert 11a, D-52428 Jülich, Germany Payment is due in advance by money transfer to the account of the German Chelonia Group (AG-Schildkröten). Please state “Terrapene CD” as subject for the transfer. The surplus of the sale will be transferred to a project for protection of Terrapene in their natural habitat. Inside the US, please order the CR-ROM from Sandra Barnett, Catonsville, Maryland via E-Mail to: colin_barnett@mindspring.com. 54 RADIATA 17 (3), 2008
Husbandry and first-time Breeding of Batrachemys raniceps Maik Schilde Husbandry and first-time Breeding of Batrachemys raniceps (Gray 1856), the Amazon Toad-headed Turtle Introduction The Amazon toad-headed turtle is a representative of the suborder of the side-necked turtles (Pleurodira). It was first described as Hydraspis raniceps by Gray in 1856 who specified its type locality as Pará, Brazil. Several families are distinguished within the Pleurodira. One of these is the family Chelidae, which comprises the genera Chelodina, Macrochelodina, Macrodiremys, Emydura, Elseya, Pseudemydura, Elusor and Rheodytes from the Indo-Australian Region and the genera Acanthochelys, Chelus, Hydromedusa, Platemys, Phrynops, Batrachemys, Mesoclemmys and Rhinemys from the Neotropics. For a long time, the species of the genera Batrachemys, Mesoclemmys, Rhinemys and Phrynops were maintained in a single genus. Following an analysis conducted by McCord et al. (2001), the latter was shown to be a composite unit that had to be split into the mentioned genera plus two additional ones, Bufocephala and Ranacephala. Besides morphological differences there are also ethological aspects that clearly separate these forms. For example, the species of the genus Phrynops will bask often and for extended periods of time, whereas the members of the genera Batrachemys and Mesoclemmys are more secretive and never venture on land for the purpose of Fig. 1. The egg tooth is still very much in evidence in this hatchling. RADIATA 17 (3), 2008 55
