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Malayemys macrocephala (GRAY, 1859)

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Higher TaxaGeoemydidae (Geoemydinae), Testudinoidea, Testudines (turtles)
Subspecies 
Common Names 
SynonymGeoclemys macrocephala GRAY 1859
Geoclemys macrocephala GRAY 1860: 501
Malayemys macrocephala — BROPHY 2004
Malayemys macrocephala — TTWG 2014
Malayemys macrocephala — TTWG 2021 
DistributionCambodia, West Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand (river systems of Chao Phraya and Mae Klong)

Type locality: “Siam”, restricted to Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand (Chao Phraya River Basin; approx. 50 km NNE of Bangkok; 14.017° N, 100.733° E).  
Reproduction 
TypesLectotype: BMNH 1947.3.4.51-.52 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Turtles from the Mekong River Basin retain the name Malayemys subtrijuga (Schlegel and Müller,1844), whereas those from the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong river basins, coastal areas of south-eastern Thailand, and the Malay
Peninsula are assigned the name M. macrocephala. M. macrocephala has four or fewer nasal stripes (99%) and an infraorbital stripe that is relatively wide at the loreal seam (98%of InfSW/HW=0.07-0.18) and does not extend or extends only slightly superior to the loreal seam (96%). Conversely, M.subtrijuga has six or more nasal stripes (89%) and an infraorbital stripe that is relatively narrow at the
loreal seam (92%of InfSW/HW=0.02-0.06), extends completely superior to the loreal seam (96%), and usually joins the supraorbital stripe (64%). Female M. macrocephala also have relatively longer AnL and relatively shorter Vert5L and PecL than M. subtrijuga. Similarly, male M. macrocephala have relatively longer PPLL and AbdL, relatively shorter Pleu1L and PecL, and greater RLatK values than M. subtrijuga. (BROPHY 2004) 
CommentBROPHY (2004) separated M. subtrijuga from M. macrocephala which was previously considered as a synonym of M. subtrijuga.

Type species: Geoclemys macrocephala GRAY 1859 is the type species of the genus Damonia GRAY 1869 (pre-occupied by Damonia ROBINEAU-DESVOIDY 1847, Diptera). Malayemys LINDHOLM 1931 is a nomen novum pro Damonia. Note that Lindhom 1931 considered M. subtrijuga as the type species and M. macrocephala was considered as a synonym of M. subtrijuga (e.g. by WERMUTH & MERTENS 1977: 46).

Behavior: nocturnal (Sumontha et al. 2016), but also diurnal (F. Ihlow, pers. comm. 19 April 2016).

Habitat: freshwater (Rivers, swamps, ponds) 
References
  • Auer, Markus 2011. Beobachtungen zu Vorkommen und Handel von Schildkröten in Nordlaos. Sauria, Berlin 33 (1): 3-11 - get paper here
  • Blyth, EDWARD 1863. Report of the curator, zoological department. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Calcutta, 32 (1): 73-90. - get paper here
  • Bour, R. 2008. Global diversity of turtles (Chelonii; Reptilia) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595:593–598 - get paper here
  • Brophy, Timothy R. 2003. Variation and Systematics of the Malayan Snail-Eating Turtle, Malayemys subtrijuga (Schlegel and Muller, 1844) . Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Environmental and Science Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
  • Brophy, Timothy R. 2004. GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION AND SYSTEMATICS IN THE SOUTH-EAST ASIAN TURTLES OF THE GENUS MALAYEMYS (TESTUDINES: BATAGURIDAE). Hamadryad 29 (1): 63 – 79 - get paper here
  • Brophy, Timothy R. 2006. Allometry and sexual dimorphism in the Snail-Eating Turtle Malayemys macrocephala from the Chao Phraya River Basin of Central Thailand. Chelonian Conserv. Biol. 5 (1): 159-165. - get paper here
  • Chan-ard, T., Parr, J.W.K. & Nabhitabhata, J. 2015. A field guide to the reptiles of Thailand. Oxford University Press, NY, 352 pp. [see book reviews by Pauwels & Grismer 2015 and Hikida 2015 for corrections] - get paper here
  • Chan-ard,T.; Grossmann,W.; Gumprecht,A. & Schulz,K. D. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles of peninsular Malaysia and Thailand - an illustrated checklist [bilingual English and German]. Bushmaster Publications, Würselen, Gemany, 240 pp. [book review in Russ. J Herp. 7: 87] - get paper here
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  • Gray, J. E. 1871. Damonia oblonga, a new species of freshwater tortoise. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) 8: 367 - get paper here
  • Gray, J.E. 1860. Description of a new species of freshwater tortoise from Siam. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) 5: 501-502 - get paper here
  • Ihlow F, Vamberger M, Flecks M, Hartmann T, Cota M, Makchai S, et al. 2016. Integrative Taxonomy of Southeast Asian Snail-Eating Turtles (Geoemydidae: Malayemys) Reveals a New Species and Mitochondrial Introgression. PLoS One 11 (4): e0153108, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153108 - get paper here
  • Kopstein, F. 1938. Ein Beitrag zur Eierkunde und zur Fortpflanzung der Malaiischen Reptilien. Bull. Raffles Mus. No 14: 81-167
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  • Lee, J. C.I.; Tsai, L.C.; Liao, S.P.; Linacre, A. & Hsieh, H.M. 2009. Species identification using the cytochrome b gene of commercial turtle shells. Forensic Science International: Genetics 3: 67–73 - get paper here
  • Lehr, E. & Holloway, R. 2003. Turtle trade in Cambodia. Reptilia (GB) (30): 64-71 - get paper here
  • Lindholm W.A. 1931. Über eine angebliche Testudo-Art aus Südchina. Zoologischer Anzeiger 97: 27-30
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  • McCord, W.P. & Joseph-Ouni, M. 2003. Chelonian Illustrations #10. Monotypic genera of the family Geoemydidae. Reptilia (GB) (30): 34-38 - get paper here
  • Pauwels, O.S.G.; David, P.; Chimsunchart, C. & Thirakhupt, K. 2003. Reptiles of Phetchaburi Province, Western Thailand: a list of species, with natural history notes, and a discussion on the biogeography at the Isthmus of Kra. Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University 3 (1): 23-53 - get paper here
  • Platt, Steven G.; Heng Sovannara, Long Kheng, Rohan Holloway, Bryan L. Stuart, and Thomas R. Rainwater 2008. Biodiversity, Exploitation, and Conservation of Turtles in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, Cambodia, with Notes on Reproductive Ecology of Malayemys subtrijuga. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 7(2): 195 - get paper here
  • Sacha, Manuel 2021. Varanus salvator macromaculatus Deraniyagala, 1944 (Reptilia: Varanidae) im Lumpini-Park, Bangkok. Sauria 43 (3): 54-64
  • Schilde, M. 2004. Asiatische Sumpfschildkröten - Die Familie Geoemydidae in Südostasien, China und Japan. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 192 pp. - get paper here
  • Schlegel,H. & Müller,S. 1845. Over de Schildpadden van den Indischen Archipel. In: Temminck,V. (1839-1847) Verhandelingen over de natuurlijke geschiedenis der Nederlandsche overzeesche bezittingen, door de leden der Natuurkundige Commisie in Oost-Indie en andere schrijvers. Leijden folio. Afd. 1 Zoologie in 12 afleveringen, met - get paper here
  • Schweigger, A.F. 1812. Prodromus Monographia Cheloniorum auctore Schweigger. Königsberg. Arch. Naturwiss. Mathem., 1: 271-368, 406-458.
  • Suzuki, Dai; Kengo Fuse, Mitsuhiro Aizu, Satoshi Yoshizawa, Wataru Tanaka, Kunio Araya, and Bounthob Praxaysombath 2015. Reptile Diversity in Food Markets in Laos. Current Herpetology 34 (2): 112-119 - get paper here
  • TTWG [Peter Paul van Dijk, John B. Iverson, Anders G.J. Rhodin, H. Bradley Shaffer, and Roger Bour] 2014. Turtles of the World, 7th Edition: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution with Maps, and Conservation Status. 000.v7. Chelonian Research Monographs (ISSN 1088-7105) No. 5, doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v7.2014 - get paper here
  • TTWG; Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., Bour, R., Fritz, U., Georges, A., Shaffer, H.B., and van Dijk, P.P. 2021. Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (9th Ed.). In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., van Dijk, P.P., Stanford, C.B., Goode, E.V., Buhlmann, K.A., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Chelonian Research Monographs 8:1–472. doi:10.3854/crm.8.checklist.atlas.v9.2021. - get paper here
  • VISOOT, YUPAPORN; THONGCHAI NGAMPRASERTWONG & NOPPADON KITANA. 2021. Nesting Ecology and Reproducing Females of the Snail-eating Turtle, Malayemys macrocephala, in Paddy Fields in Central Plain of Thailand. Tropical Natural History 21(3): 354–364. - get paper here
  • Zug, G.R. & Mulcahy, D.G. 2019. Identification guide Amphibians and reptiles of South Tanintharyi. Fauna & Flora International, 101 pp.
 
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