Abstract

A 2-year study was conducted on the forest cane turtle, Vijayachelys silvatica, in Chalakudy District, Kerala, South India. This is a poorly known species, endemic to the Western Ghats of Southern India. The aims of the study were to ascertain morphometrics, sex ratios, and reproductive data in the field. Female Vijayachelys were more massive than males and significantly larger in all the characters examined, except for straight-line carapace length. The sex ratio among adult individuals was 47 males to 36 females (1.31∶1), which did not differ significantly from 1∶1. The greatest number of turtles was found in October and the fewest in May. Mating was observed in the months of June, September, and November and oviposition in January and February. Clutch size was 2 eggs in most cases. Turtles were observed to feed on snails, mushrooms, centipedes, and beetles living in the molding leaf litter and humus. Almost all turtles had algae on their shells.

Abstract

There are currently ca. 317 recognized species of turtles and tortoises in the world. Of those that have been assessed on the IUCN Red List, 63% are considered threatened, and 10% are critically endangered, with ca. 42% of all known turtle species threatened. Without directed strategic conservation planning, a significant portion of turtle diversity could be lost over the next century. Toward that conservation effort, we compiled museum and literature occurrence records for all of the world's tortoises and freshwater turtle species to determine their distributions and identify priority regions for conservation. We constructed projected range maps for each species by selecting geographic information system–defined hydrologic unit compartments (HUCs) with verified locality points, and then added HUCs that connected known point localities in the same watershed or physiographic region and that had similar habitats and elevations as the verified HUCs. We analyzed a total of 305 turtle species and assigned each to 1 of 7 geographic regions of the world. Patterns of global turtle species distributions were determined and regional areas of turtle species richness identified. In only 2 areas of the world did as many as 18 or 19 species occur together in individual HUCs. We then compared species distributions with existing global conservation strategies (GCSs) and established biodiversity priority areas. Presence of a species in a GCS was defined as ≥ 5% its range. Of the 34 biodiversity hotspots, 28 collectively contain the projected ranges of 192 turtle species, with 74 endemic; the 5 high-biodiversity wilderness areas contain 72 species, with 17 endemic; and 16 other wilderness areas contain 52 species, with 1 endemic. However, 116 turtle species have either < 50% of their ranges in existing GCSs (57 species) or do not occur in them at all (59 species, 19.3%), thus potentially leaving many tortoises and freshwater turtles without any regional GCS. For each of these 116 species we identify a priority Ecoregion for further conservation consideration, and we identify 3 new global Turtle Priority Areas for conservation based on aggregated Ecoregions. These are the Southeastern United States, Lower Gangetic Plain, and Coastal Australia Turtle Priority Areas.

Abstract

This paper provides the first overview of sea turtles in Guinea-Bissau, presents data on their ecology, and analyzes threats and conservation initiatives. The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is by far the most widespread and abundant of the 5 species that nest in Guinea-Bissau. Between ca. 7000 and 29,000 green turtle nests are laid per year at the globally important site of Poilão Island, with a few hundred more on surrounding islands. There is a marked interspecific variability in nesting seasonality, with green and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles nesting mostly during the rainy season and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) during the dry season. Informal interviews all over the coastal zone suggest that sea turtle populations have markedly declined within living memory. Main threats are poaching of eggs and of nesting females and the incidental capture in fishing gear. Amongst the major achievements of sea turtle conservation efforts are that all species are protected by law, the most important nesting beaches have been included in the protected area network, and significant progress has been made in removing the presence of settlements of foreign fishermen from the areas near the turtle concentrations where accidental captures used to occur. On the down side, it should be pointed out that protection in the national parks is insufficient. The main problem seems to be the weak enforcement of park and national rules by park authorities, which creates a feeling of relative impunity in park residents and visiting fishermen.

Fallen Giants

Mark Summers ¹

“Big-is-always-better”, notably so when picking fruit

If fruit is giant tortoise big, picking's awfully sweet

And so it went for the behemoth isolationists

When they met Man on voyage of exploration

Or should that be voyage of exploitation

Seychelles, Galapagos, Mauritius all ‘discovered’

And all held creeps of prehistoric laggards

Dilly-dallying browser/grazers that could but crawl

Their comedown, though, was not a question of speed

Rather, their culinary value; stowed away, ever ready

Viande fraîche to be served up on some distant wave

Or rich tribute to he who got castaway on their isle

Stranding and Outcome Data for Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles in Massachusetts, 2008–2022: Evolution of Management Methods in Response to Increasing Caseload and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Charles J. Innis,

Kate Sampson,

Alessia Brugnara,

Sean Perry,

Karen Dourdeville,

Robert Prescott,

Constance Merigo,

Deana Edmunds,

Kathryn A. Tuxbury,

Linda Lory,

Kerry McNally,

Julie M. Cavin,

Melissa Joblon,

Jessica Ciarcia,

Michaela Wellman,

Katie Pugliares Bonner,

Julika Wocial,

Sarah Perez,

Sarah Dicarlo,

Kristen Luise,

Kurt Hood,

Nicole Hunter,

Jennifer Kiesling,

Elizabeth Linske,

Erin Mangan Sullivan,

Marisa Tardiani,

Eric Payne,

Katie Yungman,

Tina Wilkins,

Christine Sinnigen,

Aubrey Sperry,

Mary Beth Tims,

Nina Nahvi,

Alyssa Kaufold,

Nina Fischer,

Abigail S. Holding, and

Adam Kennedy

Editorial Update

Biology of the Forest Cane Turtle, Vijayachelys silvatica, in South India

Abstract

A Global Analysis of Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Distributions with Identification of Priority Conservation Areas

Abstract

Status, Ecology, and Conservation of Sea Turtles in Guinea-Bissau

Abstract

Vitamin D₃ in Captive Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Abstract

Body Temperature Variation During Nesting Forays in Midland Painted Turtles, Chrysemys picta marginata, in Michigan

Abstract

Can Rehabilitated Leopard Tortoises, Stigmochelys pardalis, Be Successfully Released into the Wild?

Abstract

Nesting Behavior of the Pig-Nosed Turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, in Australia

Abstract

Marine Turtles in the Turks and Caicos Islands: Remnant Rookeries, Regionally Significant Foraging Stocks, and a Major Turtle Fishery

Abstract

Changes in Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Predation Behavior Affects Turtle (Malaclemys terrapin) Nest Census

Abstract

A Second Specimen of the Pleistocene Bermuda Tortoise, Hesperotestudo bermudae Meylan and Sterrer

Abstract

Detection of Salmonella in Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) During Two Relocation Efforts in Florida

Abstract

An Evaluation of Histological Techniques Used in Skeletochronological Age Estimation of Sea Turtles

Abstract

First Assessment of Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in the Endangered Nile Softshell Turtle, Trionyx triunguis, in the Mediterranean

Abstract

Turtle Poetry

Fallen Giants

Mark Summers ¹

Notes on the Nesting Ecology of the Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) at the Northern Limit of Its Range

Nest Site Sand Temperatures from 1897 to 2023 for Three Sea Turtle Species at Kuroshima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The First Leatherback Sea Turtle Observed During a Nesting Attempt in the Mediterranean

Stranding and Outcome Data for Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles in Massachusetts, 2008–2022: Evolution of Management Methods in Response to Increasing Caseload and the COVID-19 Pandemic

New Records of the Critically Endangered Asian Narrow-Headed Softshell Turtle, Chitra chitra, in Thailand

Terrestrial Movements of Hatchling Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in Agricultural Fields in New Jersey

Editorial Reflection

Observations on Terrestrial Feeding Behavior and Growth in Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys) and Snapping Turtle (Chelydra) Hatchlings

Hematological Parameters, Plasma Polypeptide Profiles, and Human Anti-Cancer Bioactivity of Testudo graeca and Testudo horsfieldii Plasma

Ecology and Status of the Magdalena River Turtle, Podocnemis lewyana, a Colombian Endemic