Clemmys
Encyclopedia
Clemmys is a genus
of turtle
, consisting of one North America
n species, the spotted turtle
(C. guttata),
"Clemmys guangxiensis" is a composite taxon
described from specimens of Mauremys mutica
and the natural hybrid "Mauremys" × iversoni
(Parham et al. 2001).
Until recently, the genus Clemmys consisted of four species (Bog Turtle
, Spotted Turtle
, Western Pond Turtle
, and the Wood Turtle
). Recent genetic analyses have revealed that the Spotted Turtle
is distinct from the other three species. The Bog Turtle
and the Wood Turtle
were moved to the genus Glyptemys
, while the Western Pond Turtle
has been re-named Actinemys. This makes the Spotted Turtle
the sole member of the genus Clemmys
The Spotted Turtle
is declining throughout eastern Northern America due to habitat loss and poaching. From this study, most specifically on the Southeastern population, females had greater shell heights, heavier body masses, and longer plastrons than males.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
, consisting of one North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n species, the spotted turtle
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted turtle , the only current species of Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle that reaches a carapace length of upon adulthood. Their broad, smooth, low dark-colored upper shell, or carapace, ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots...
(C. guttata),
"Clemmys guangxiensis" is a composite taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
described from specimens of Mauremys mutica
Mauremys mutica
The Yellow pond turtle , is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae . It is found in China , Japan , Taiwan, and northern and central Vietnam and possibly adjacent Laos.It is a parent of several...
and the natural hybrid "Mauremys" × iversoni
Fujian Pond Turtle
The Fujian Pond Turtle is a possibly also naturally occurring intergeneric hybrid turtle in the Geoemydidae family produced in larger numbers by Chinese turtle farms as a "copy" of the Golden Coin Turtle Cuora trifasciata. It appears to occur in China and Vietnam...
(Parham et al. 2001).
Until recently, the genus Clemmys consisted of four species (Bog Turtle
Bog turtle
The bog turtle is a semiaquatic turtle endemic to the eastern United States. It was first scientifically described in 1801 after an 18th century survey of Pennsylvania. It is the smallest North American turtle, measuring about long when fully grown...
, Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted turtle , the only current species of Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle that reaches a carapace length of upon adulthood. Their broad, smooth, low dark-colored upper shell, or carapace, ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots...
, Western Pond Turtle
Western pond turtle
The western pond turtle , or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California...
, and the Wood Turtle
Wood Turtle
The wood turtle is a turtle endemic to North America. It is in the genus Glyptemys, a designation given to only one other turtle: the bog turtle. The wood turtle reaches a carapace length of , its defining characteristic being the pyramidal pattern on its upper shell...
). Recent genetic analyses have revealed that the Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted turtle , the only current species of Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle that reaches a carapace length of upon adulthood. Their broad, smooth, low dark-colored upper shell, or carapace, ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots...
is distinct from the other three species. The Bog Turtle
Bog turtle
The bog turtle is a semiaquatic turtle endemic to the eastern United States. It was first scientifically described in 1801 after an 18th century survey of Pennsylvania. It is the smallest North American turtle, measuring about long when fully grown...
and the Wood Turtle
Wood Turtle
The wood turtle is a turtle endemic to North America. It is in the genus Glyptemys, a designation given to only one other turtle: the bog turtle. The wood turtle reaches a carapace length of , its defining characteristic being the pyramidal pattern on its upper shell...
were moved to the genus Glyptemys
Glyptemys
Glyptemys is a genus of turtle in the family Emydidae. It comprises two species, the bog turtle and wood turtle, both of which are endemic to North America. Until 2001, these turtles were considered members of the genus Clemmys, which currently has one member: the spotted turtle.Full grown, these...
, while the Western Pond Turtle
Western pond turtle
The western pond turtle , or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California...
has been re-named Actinemys. This makes the Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted turtle , the only current species of Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle that reaches a carapace length of upon adulthood. Their broad, smooth, low dark-colored upper shell, or carapace, ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots...
the sole member of the genus Clemmys
The Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted turtle , the only current species of Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle that reaches a carapace length of upon adulthood. Their broad, smooth, low dark-colored upper shell, or carapace, ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots...
is declining throughout eastern Northern America due to habitat loss and poaching. From this study, most specifically on the Southeastern population, females had greater shell heights, heavier body masses, and longer plastrons than males.