Return to World Chelonian Trust Main Page for more Turtle and Tortoise Information
Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons - Visual Determination of Subspecies - Chris Tabaka DVM
Copyright © 2003 World Chelonian Trust. All rights reserved
This subspecies is found on Hainan Island in China as well as northern Vietnam. It
is the predominant species found in the Asian turtle markets at this time:
Cuora galbinifrons in the China Animal
Markets. This is also the predominant species found in the pet trade.
While claims are being made that these animals are coming off of Hainan Island, almost all
of them are coming in from Vietnam where "hunters" utilize dogs to search them
out.
Husbandry articles on the species can be found at:
Flowerback Box Turtle - Care (Cuora galbinifrons) – Sharon Chancellor
Cuora galbinifrons: A humbling experience - Sharon Chancellor
Cuora galbinifrons Update - Sharon Chancellor
An article picturing side-by-side comparisons between Cuora galbinifrons subspecies can be seen at:
Differentiating
Cuora galbinifrons subspecies
In depth pictorials of the details of the other two subspecies can be found at:
Cuora galbinifrons bourreti - Visual Determination of Subspecies - Chris Tabaka DVM
Cuora galbinifrons picturata - Visual Determination of Subspecies - Chris Tabaka DVM
Quiz: Name that Cuora galbinifrons Subspecies - Chris Tabaka DVM and Sharon Chancellor
Differentiating Male and Female Cuora galbinifrons (Flowerback Box Turtle) - Chris Tabaka DVM and Sharon Chancellor, MT
The latest Ask the Vet column in the World Chelonian Trust print newsletter (August, 2002) contains a medical column on the most commonly faced problems and solutions in this species.
Differentiation of Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons from the other Cuora galbinifrons subspecies
1. The easiest way to differentiate Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons (loosely called galb galbs) from the other subspecies is their completely black plastron as seen below.
Though the plastron will lighten as they age such as in the ancient female pictured below, it should always be black in coloration.
2. Another way to differentiate this subspecies from others is their "low to the ground" profile. They are more elongated and not as "tall" as the other subspecies. Two examples of this are pictured below.
3. Still another method of differentiating them is by their facial features. Unlike the other subspecies, this one tends to have a number of black freckles over the top of the head. A number of facial shots can be seen below.
Old animals such as this old female tend to have faded freckles but they are still visible in the old girl pictured below.
If the above is insufficient for you to identify your Cuora galbinifrons subspecies please feel free to send a digital picture of your animal to Chris Tabaka DVM at zoovets@chelonia.org or Sharon Chancellor at SharonChancellor@chelonia.org for assistance.
World Chelonian Trust
www.chelonia.org
PO Box 1445
Vacaville, CA
95696
Home Page - World Chelonian Trust
Return to Taxonomy / Morphometrics
Return to Conservation / Natural History
