Morphological characteristics of the maple leaf turtle

Maple Leaf Turtle
Maple Leaf Turtle (Definite Introduction)

The Maple Leaf Turtle is a relatively rare turtle in our country , has a strange appearance and is easy to identify. The carapace is longer but not wide. There are many tooth-like decorations on the tail, making it look more like a maple leaf.

The maple leaf turtle is a semi-aquatic turtle with a small body. The adult carapace is only 120 mm long and 78 mm wide. Its head is light brown, the head is small, the back is smooth, the upper beak is hooked, the eyes are large and protruding, and there are light yellow vertical stripes from the side of the snout along the eyes to the side of the neck. The carapace is golden or orange, with three ridges in the center and twelve teeth on both the front and rear edges, so it is called the "twelve-ridged turtle". Because the carapace looks like a maple leaf, it is also called "Maple Leaf Turtle". Its plastron is brown and black, so it is also called "black-breasted leaf turtle".

The plastron is brown and black, with light yellow patterns on both sides. The nail bridge is obvious, and the dorsal and ventral carapace are connected by bone sutures. The hind limbs are light brown with red or black patterns, and the fingers and toes are webbed. The female turtle's plastron is flat, the tail is short, and the cloacal hole is closer to the rear edge of the plastron. The center of the male turtle's plastron is concave, the tail is long and thick, and the cloacal hole is farther from the rear edge of the plastron.


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