Natural history observations on the endangered turtle Geoemyda spengler? in Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve (Vietnam), with notes on other sympatric species

摘要

Vietnam is one the most biodiverse countries of the world in terms of turtle species richness, with 27 species being freshwater and terrestrial. The natural history of these species is very little known, but it is thought that the great majority of them are seriously threatened by habitat loss and overhunting. Here, we report on a survey employing both interviews with local people and field transects through the forest in the Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve, on natural history information on Geoemyda spengleri and on other sympatric species. Using pictures of 14 different species of chelonian, at least 10 % of the interviewees recognised seven species. Of these G. spengleri and Cuora mouhotii were by far the most frequently recognised by interviewees, and were also the most frequent in a sample of 40 turtle individuals that were observed on local trade. Both species were also the only two species that were observed during field transects. Individuals of G. spengleri were observed from 10:47-13:45 h, in all cases in sunny weather after rain, at 25-30 °C temperature range. All individuals were seen in montane bamboo forests, often inside or nearby rocky caves, and in sites with forest cover being 70 %-90 %, at slope angles varying from 5-45 °.