Native Animals
Heosemys grandis
Asian Giant Terrapin
CR
Critically Endangered
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2021
Taxonomy
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Specific Epithetgrandis Gray, 1860
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Common Name
- Asian Giant Terrapin (English)
- Giant Asian Pond Turtle (English)
- Kura Besar (Malay)
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ResidentialNative
The taxonomic status is pending for approval
Description
Giant Asian Pond Turtle is a large species of freshwater turtle belongs in family Geoemydidae. It has a distinct, pale-brown keel over the dark carapace. The head always has dense orange speckling. For every scute of the plastron, it has a radiating pattern emerging from darker blotch in juveniles (Das, 2010). Males become larger than females and have a concave plastron. Females lay 3-6, large and hard-shelled eggs in the dry season which hatch early in the rainy season after several months. This species prefers lowland swamps and other damp areas but also occurs near seasonal streams in forested hills. It lives on semi-aquatic habitat (IUCN, 2000). Its diverse diet includes vegetable matter, fruits and small invertebrates such as prawns, crabs, insects, worms and fish.
Habits
| No | Part | Habit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Oviparous — Reproduction through production of eggs that have membranes and/or shells.
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| 2 |
Semi-aquatic — An animal living partly on land and partly in water or a plant growing in very wet or waterlogged ground.
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| 3 |
Terrestrial — An animal that lives on/near the ground or a plant that grows on/in/from land
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Assessment
| Year Published | Assessment | Red List Category | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Critically Endangered (CR)
|
3.1 |
| 2000 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
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2.3 |
| 1996 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Near Threatened (NT)
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N/A |
Biodiversity Experts
| Profile | |
|---|---|
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Amirrudin Bin Ahmad (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
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Amphibians, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Fishes, Reptiles,
Biodiversity, Data Analysis, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Living Modified Organism (LMO), Marine & Coastal, Protected Areas & Invasive Alien Species
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Charles Leh Moi Ung (Dr.)
Sarawak Museum Department (JMS)
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Fishes, Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin, Crustaceans,
Biodiversity & Science
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Chen Pelf Nyok (Dr.)
Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS)
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Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin (Ecology), Reptiles (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Conservation, Education & Environment
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Kaviarasu Munian (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
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Reptiles (Ecology), Amphibians (Ecology), Fishes (Ecology),
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Lim Boo Liat (Dr.)
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Reptiles (Ecology), Rodents (Ecology), Amphibians (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Invasive Alien Species
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Mohamad Rosni Bin Othman (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
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Amphibians, Coral Reefs, Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin, Amphibians,
Law and Policy, Management & Marine & Coastal
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Mohammad Shahfiz Azman (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
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Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles,
Awareness, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Environment, Forest, Landscape, Law and Policy, Management, Protected Areas, Science, Systematics, Invasive Alien Species, Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC), National Policy on Biological Diversity, Policy, Research and Development (R&D) & Zoonotic
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Mohd Abdul Muin Bin Md Akil (Mr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
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Amphibians, Birds, Reptiles, Snakes,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas, Climate Change & Invasive Alien Species
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Mohd Zulfadli Bin Mohd Arshad (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
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Rodents (Taxonomy), Reptiles,
Molecular, Biodiversity & Science
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Norhayati Binti Ahmad (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
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Frogs and Toads, Snakes, Amphibians, Reptiles,
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Teo Eng Wah (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
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Reptiles, Amphibians,
Invasive Alien Species
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PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;
References
Book
- Auliya, M. (2007). An Identification Guide to the Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore and Timor Leste. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. pp. 90.
- Beastall, C.A. & Chng, S.C.L. (2021). Identification of Commonly Traded Wildlife in Southeast Asia. TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Cox, M.J., Van Dijk, P.P., Nabhitabhata, J. & Kumthorn, T. (2010). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. pp. 144.
- Das, I. (2010). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK), England. pp. 369.
- Nee, T. A. & Norhayati, N. (2018). Compendium of Facts and Figures. 3rd Edition, Volume 3. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 174.
- Praveena, B.K. & Maria Arlene, J.A.S. (2013). Compendium of Facts and Figures. 2nd Edition. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 161.
Chapter in book
- Das, I. & Norsham, S.Y. (2007). Status of Knowledge of The Malaysia Herpetofauna. In Chua, L.S.L., Kirton, L.G. & Saw, L.G. (Eds.), Status of Biological Diversity in Malaysia and Threat Assessment of Plant Species in Malaysia: Proceedings of the Seminar and Workshop, 28-30 June 2005. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). pp. 31-81.
Legislation
- Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010 (2010) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Akta Perdagangan Antarabangsa Mengenai Species Terancam 2008 (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Wildlife Conservation Act (2010). Laws of Malaysia Act 716 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Pamphlet/Brochure
- Identification Sheets for Wildlife Species Traded in Southeast Asia (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Turtles of Malaysia (2019) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Report
- Sharma, D.S.K. (1999). Trade Review: Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Trade and Utilisation in Peninsular Malaysia. A Traffic Southeast Asia Report. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Publications
Acknowledgements :- Mr. Ahmad Amir Firdaus Bin Mad Apandi, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Ms. Mira Farzana Binti Mohamad Mokhtar, Ms. Noor Amira Aini Binti Noor Anwar, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurul Aimi Amirah Binti Mohd Zaki, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin
Photo credit :- Dr Teo Eng Wah
Species Citation :- Heosemys grandis. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/9952. [Retrieved 29 March 2023].
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