Yellow-headed temple turtle

The yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii) is a large species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

Yellow-headed temple turtle
Yellow-headed temple turtle in Turtle Conservation Center, Cuc-Phuong, Vietnam
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Geoemydidae
Genus:	Heosemys
Species:	H. annandalii
Binomial name
Heosemys annandalii (Boulenger, 1903)[3]
Synonyms[4]
Cyclemys annandalii Boulenger, 1903 Hieremys annandalei M.A. Smith, 1916 (ex errore) Cyclemys annandali Mell, 1929 (ex errore) Cyclemys annandalei — M.A. Smith, 1930 Hieremys annandalii — M.A. Smith, 1930 Hieremys annandali — Mertens, L. Müller & Rust, 1934 Heosemys annandalii — Diesmos, Parham, B.L. Stuart & R.M. Brown, 2005

Etymology

The common name, "yellow-headed temple turtle", is derived from the fact that it is often found near Buddhist temples within its range.^{[citation needed]}

The specific name, annandalii, is in honor of Scottish herpetologist Nelson Annandale.^[5]

Description

H. annandalii may grow to over 20 in (51 cm) in straight carapace length.^{[citation needed]}

Behavior

H. annandalii is aquatic, and is generally herbivorous.^{[citation needed]}

Conservation status

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) suspended trade of yellow-headed temple turtles in July 2012.^[6]

Geographic range

H. annandalii is found in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Myanmar.^[3][4]

Habitat

Heosemys annandalii in Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center, Vietnam

The preferred natural habitats of H. annandalii are wet forests and freshwater wetlands.^[1]

Captivity

H. annandalii may live in captivity for up to 35 years.^{[citation needed]}

Two turtles were hatched in November 2019 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Heosemys annadali has been breed in captivity.^[7]

Parasites

Leeches, Placobdelloides siamensis on the carapace of a yellow-headed temple turtle (arrows)

The leech Placobdelloides siamensis is an ectoparasite of this turtle.^[8]