Minutes of the Discussions major investments into energy. Individuals often prove highly aggressive amongst each other, with males fighting over females and a distinct possibility of females being incompatible amongst each other as well. Even juveniles are sometimes aggressive, and jealousy over food is commonplace. Podocnemis unifilis used to be available in large numbers from pet shops in the late 1960’; this species has recently been appearing in the trade more often. Podocnemis vogli is apparently able to deliberately delay oviposition. One keeper induced the laying of eggs that had been overdue for weeks by means of Oxytocin; these eggs were still normally shelled. It is possible that this ability is an adaptation to varying water levels, with the females “waiting” until flooded nesting sites dry up once more (?). Subject: The Genus Hydromedusa One keeper reported about two instances of successfully breeding Hydromedusa tectifera (with 12 and 15 eggs per clutch, respectively, and hatching rates of 80-90 %). Problems may arise from infections of the shell, with infections “eating” holes into the shell. Shell necrosis appears to be a common cause of death, and few specimens live to sexual maturity. Another disease shows in the posterior portion of the body turning red (like in the case of a sepsis); affected specimens inevitably perish. Observations on the degree of intraspecific compatibility vary, ranging from harmonious co-existence to extremely vicious (the latter was confirmed by several keepers). The experimental insertion of a diapause during incubation was unsuccessful. Hydromedusa maximiliani lives in the temperate Atlantic rainforests of southeastern Brazil where water temperatures reach maxima of only 20-22 °C (usually 17-19 °C). The species leads a secretive life in clear, well-structured mountains streams (with roots and rocks). It appears to be an insectivore that often feeds on what accumulates in the calm sections of a stream. Very few private keepers engage in the husbandry of Hydromedusa maximiliani. Scutellation anomalies are believed to be a common occurrence also in the wild. Subject: The Genus Platemys The subspecies can hardly be told apart. One keeper has been keeping two pairs separately in aquaterraria (one third aquatic, two thirds terrestrial) at low water levels, with the land consisting of bark humus; the turtles reproduce on a regular basis. It has turned out to be of advantage to keep illumination levels low as bright light appears to cause stress. Eggs are buried. One of the two females spends most of her time in the water while the other prefers to stay on land. Both take to the water for feeding. Males tend to suppress each other and need to be kept individually. Their diet is based on pink mice and “fish jelly”. Another keeper split his tank into an aquatic and a terrestrial section of equal dimensions. His specimens spent a lot of time on land, but always took to the water for feeding. Another keeper of Platemys observed that crickets were actively hunted on land. Field observations made by one participant in French Guiana confirmed the terrestrial habits of this turtle; it would also feed on land and wander over large distances. In captivity, the turtles are said to only go only on land if there are adequate hiding places available. All photographs: Andrea K. Rohde. 78 RADIATA 17 (3), 2008
Conservation of the Vietnamese Pond Turtle (Mauremys annamensis) Nguyen Duc Luong, Nguyen Xuan Thuan, Douglas Hendrie, Tim McCormack Conservation of the Vietnamese Pond Turtle (Mauremys annamensis) in central Vietnam Introduction The Vietnamese Pond Turtle (Mauremys annamensis) is an endemic turtle species in Vietnam. Though the species is believed to inhabit lowland ponds and marshes within a restricted range of costal central Vietnam, little is known about its wild ecology. First recorded in 1903 by Siebenrock from Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, the last time the species was observed in the wild was in 1939 by Merklen (described in Bourret Fig. 1. Mauremys return home from Hong Kong in 2006. 1941). However, since then a number of animals have been observed in the wildlife trade, including one specimen observed in 1993 in a local community in Gia Lai Province, south of Quang Nam (Parham et al. 2006). This suggests that Mauremys annamensis may in fact have a wider range along the lowland coastal area of Vietnam, from the northern Annamites mountain range in Da Nang Province to as far south as Phu Yen Province. In recent years the species’ lowland habitat which includes riparian wetlands, ponds, and marshes has been steadily disappearing as a result of agricultural conversion, in particular for rice cultivation. Moreover, intensive collection of Mauremys annamensis to meet the rising demand for turtles in China since the late 1980’s has significantly reduced remaining populations, with fewer animals observed in the trade in each passing year. Today, Mauremys annamensis is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List 2007 (IUCN 2007), and is also rated amongst the top 25 most endangered turtles in the world by the Turtle Conservation Fund (2003). The survival of Mauremys annamensis in the wild depends upon urgent and timely action to prioritize local protection of the species within its range, raise stakeholder awareness, and identify critical habitat and populations where they RADIATA 17 (3), 2008 79
