Emydura gunaleni SMALES, MCCORD, CANN & JOSEPH-OUNI, 2019
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Emydura gunaleni
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| Higher Taxa | Chelidae, Chelodininae, Pleurodira, Testudines (turtles) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Emydura gunaleni SMALES, MCCORD, CANN & JOSEPH-OUNI 2019 Emydura gunaleni — TTWG 2021 |
| Distribution | Indonesia (West Papua) Type locality: Kais River (Sungai Kais) at approximately 1°43.808'S 132° 7.826'E, in Kais District of Sarong Selatan Regency, West Papua Province (Papua Barat Province), Indonesia (not explicitly defined as type locality but given under Distribution). |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: AMNH R178722, adult female (Plate 6). Paratype: AMNH R178723, adult male. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: The following characters each diagnose E. gunaleni from E. subglobosa (Plates 6-8). Characters 1 and 2 are each diagnostic of E. gunaleni with respect to all other Emydura at the taxon and population levels and, in combination, the suite of characters are diagnostic of individuals of E. gunaleni from all other Emydura. 1. The intergular is a long, relatively narrow and straight-sided pentagon that extends posteriorly to completely separate the humerals. Its widest point is at the gular/humeral seams and its apex forms an intersection with the humerals and pectorals. The maximum width of the intergular is routinely less than half its maximum length. In E. subglobosa the maximum width of the intergular is routinely greater than half its maximum length; the anterior portion of the intergular is sub-parallel sided and/or the intergular seams are convexly curved; and the intergular routinely separates only the anterior part of the humerals. 2. Pale sulci and scute-edges outline all dorsal carapace scutes that are otherwise uniformly dark slate-black to blackish-brown. Emydura subglobosa lacks pale carapace scute seams and the carapace scutes are routinely brown with some elements of black spots or mottling. 3. All facial stripes are white to yellow, with no red or pink colouration. In E. subglobosa stripes through the jaws and along the neck are red or pink. 4. Pink coloration, if present, is confined to the plastron and scales of the ventral leg surfaces. There is no red or pink on the head, neck, plastral bridges or ventral surfaces of marginals. In E. subglobosa the ventral surfaces of the plastron, carapace and many soft parts are strongly marked with red or pink. 5. Throughout its length the width of the pale temporal stripe is less than half the diameter of the eye. The width of the pale temporal stripe in E. subglobosa is routinely greater than half the diameter of the eye. 6. The neck is dark grey with no demarcation between the dorsal and ventral surfaces and it lacks any pale lateral stripes. In E. subglobosa the neck has a lateral demarcation between colours of the dorsal and ventral surfaces and this frequently is in the form of a pale or red stripe. 7. The soft skin of the ventral neck and throat is dark grey usually with an indistinct, slightly lighter grey portion of the central throat. In E. subglobosa ventral neck skin is either dirty grey-white, or mid-grey with the variable exception of a small patch of yellow or reddish on the central portion of the throat. 8. The iris is heavily vermiculated with black so that the edges of the black lateral spots on the iris are indistinctly defined. The sclera is mottled grey. In E. subglobosa the iris lacks dark vermiculation. The black lateral spots on the iris are distinctly defined and the sclera is pale blue. 9. The skin of the dorsal head surface forms a smooth, cornified 'cap' conforming closely to the underlying parietals and posterior portion of the frontals to a point between the eyes. Its edge is defined by a slight but distinct groove. In specimens of E. subglobosa in which cornified skin of the dorsal head occurs, it covers a portion of the posterior of the parietals and less often may extend forward to the frontals. Its posterior margin is poorly defined and it usually grades into soft skin laterally and anteriorly So that these margins are not readily discerned. (Smales et al. 2019: 25) Additional details (45 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The species is named for Danny Gunalen of Jakarta, Indonesia. He first noticed the distinctive characters of the turtle and drew them to the author‘s attention. He also obtained specimens and provided the material on which the description is based and information about their provenance. |
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