First record of the Assam Leaf Turtle Cyclemys gemeli (Fritz et al. 2008) (Reptilia: Testudines: Geoemydidae) from the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, India

Authors

  • Aditya Pradhan Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Regional Office Eastern Himalaya Northeast India, NH 10 Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim 737102, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1155-838X
  • Niran Chettri Division Office, Government Cinchona Plantation, Sittong, P.O. Shelpu, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734008, India.
  • Saibal Sengupta St. Robert’s School, Dr. Yen Singh Road, Above Bishop’s House, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8990-7669

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6633.12.13.16909-16911

Keywords:

Biodiversity hotspot, eastern Himalaya, oxbows, Riyang khola, Teesta

Abstract

An individual of the Assam Leaf Turtle Cyclemys gemeli was sighted at an elevation of 580m in Darjeeling.  This is the first record of the species from the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, India.  Photographs and locality record of the sighting are provided in the present communication.

 

References

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Das, K.C. & A. Gupta (2015). New distribution records of tortoises (Chelonia: Testudinidae) from Barak Valley, Assam, northeastern India with notes on ecology and vernacular traditional taxonomy. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(3): 7017–7023. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3623.7017-23

Fritz, U., D. Guickling, M. Auer, R.S. Sommer, M. Wink & A.K. Hundsdörfer (2008). Diversity of southeast Asian leaf turtle genus Cyclemys: how many leaves on its tree of life? Zoologica Scripta 37: 367–390.

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Praschag, P., A.K. Hundsdörfer & U. Fritz (2009). Further specimens and phylogenetic position of the recently described leaf turtle species Cyclemys gemeli (Testudomes: Geoemydidae). Zootaxa 2008: 29–37.

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Smith, M.A. (1931). The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I. Loricata, Testudines. Taylor & Francis, London, 185pp.

Wangyal, J.T., D. Wangchuk & I. Das (2012). First report of turtles from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 11(2): 268–272.

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Published

26-09-2020

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 13 (2020)

Section

Notes

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