| Yellow pond turtle | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Geoemydidae |
| Subfamily: | Geoemydinae |
| Genus: | Mauremys |
| Species: | M. mutica |
| Binomial name | |
| Mauremys mutica (Cantor, 1842) |
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The Yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica), is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (formerly Bataguridae). It is found in China (Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan etc.), Japan (introduced widely, and naturally in the Ryukyu archipelago), Taiwan, and northern and central Vietnam and possibly adjacent Laos.
It is a parent of several hybrid Asian pond turtles that were described as new species. "Fujian pond turtles" ("Mauremys" iversoni) are hybrid specimens mainly produced in Chinese turtle farms but possibly occasionally occurring in the wild as well, usually from matings between female Asian Yellow Pond Turtles and Golden coin turtle (Cuora trifasciata) males. The supposed "Mauremys" pritchardi are wild and captive-bred hybrids between the present species and the Chinese pond turtle (Chinemys reevesi).[1]
One subspecies is currently recognized:
Recent genetic studies[2] have shown that further subspecies might exist, especially in Vietnam and on Hainan.
These turtles are being threatened by unsustainable hunting for food and as pets; they are regularly available in Asian markets. Also, they are killed for use in folk medicine.[3] The IUCN considers M. mutica an endangered species.[4]
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