Painted wood turtle

The ornate or painted wood turtle[2] (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) is one of nine turtle species of the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae. There are four recognized subspecies.[3]

Painted wood turtle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Rhinoclemmys
Species:
R. pulcherrima
Binomial name
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima
(Gray, 1855)
Synonyms[1]
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima pulcherrima
  • Emys pulcherrimus Gray, 1856
  • Clemmys pulcherrima Strauch, 1862
  • Callichelys pulcherrima Gray, 1863
  • Emys pulcherrima Müller, 1865
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima Gray, 1873
  • Chelopus pulcherrima Bocourt, 1876
  • Pseudemys pulcherrima Garman, 1884
  • Chelopus pulcherrimus Cope, 1887
  • Nicoria punctularia var. pulcherrima Boulenger, 1889
  • Geoemyda punctularia pulcherrima Siebenrock, 1909
  • Geoemyda pulcherrima pulcherrima Wettstein, 1934
  • Rhinoclemys pulcherrima McDowell, 1964
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima pulcherrima Smith & Taylor, 1966
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrina Fairchild, Kohls & Tipton, 1966 (ex errore)
  • Rhinoclemys pulcherrima pulcherrima Greene, 1972
  • Callopsis pulcherrima pulcherrima Smith & Smith, 1975
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherria Acuña-Mesén, 2006 (ex errore)
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa
  • Emys incisa Bocourt, 1868
  • Rhinoclemmys frontalis Gray, 1873
  • Rhinoclemmys bocourti Gray, 1873
  • Chelopus incisa Bocourt, 1876
  • Chelopus incisus Sumichrast, 1880
  • Glyptemys incisa Garman, 1884
  • Nicoria punctularia var. incisa Boulenger, 1889
  • Clemmys incisa Strauch, 1890
  • Chrysemys incisa Gadow, 1905
  • Geoemyda punctularia incisa Siebenrock, 1909
  • Rhinoclemmys incisa Schmidt, 1928
  • Geoemyda pulcherrima incisa Wettstein, 1934
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa Smith & Taylor, 1966
  • Callopsis pulcherrima incisa Smith & Smith, 1975
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima insica Rogner, 1995 (ex errore)
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni
  • Geoemyda manni Dunn, 1930
  • Geoemyda pulcherrima manni Wettstein, 1934
  • Geoemyda punctularia manni Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934
  • Callopsis pulcherrima manni Smith, Smith & Sawin, 1976
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni Pritchard, 1979
  • Rhinoclemys pulcherrima manni Pritchard, 1979
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri
  • Callopsis pulcherrima rogerbarbouri Ernst, 1978
  • Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri Pritchard, 1979
  • Rhinoclemys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri Pritchard, 1979

Description

Plastron of a painted wood turtle

Painted wood turtles can grow to a maximum length of 20cm.  It has a dome-shaped carapace and the plastron has a continuous ventral line. It has red stripes on its body and it has webbed feet.

Distribution

It is found in Mexico (from Sonora southwards) and Central America, as far south as Costa Rica.

Habitat

Painted wood turtles live in rainforests, shallow rivers and bushes. Although they are mostly terrestrial, they can occasionally be found in shallow water.

Diet

The painted wood turtle feeds on fruit, insects, and worms. Their diet should consist of 60% leafy greens, 30% protein, and 20% fruits and vegetables. Along with a varied diet, they require additional calcium to insure healthy shell growth. Unlike aquatic turtles, the painted wood turtle doesn't require water in order to swallow its food.

Breeding

Painted wood turtles are oviparous. Females lay 3-5 eggs at a time. Eggs at low temperatures can be dormant early stages, and can sleep for some time at low temperatures, when the temperature returns to normal incubation can proceed.

In captivity

Painted wood turtles can be kept as pets, and it has long been imported into the various parts of Asia, such as Japan, Taiwan and China. The nominate subspecies is the most common subspecies kept in captivity. They will eat commercial turtle food, and will also eat plant matter.

Subspecies

References

  1. Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 243–245. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755. S2CID 87809001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima, The Reptile Database
  3. "Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
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