Descriptor: "Reptilia" / Topic: testudines - Searchworks@Jio Institute Digital Library Search Results

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1,458 results on '"Reptilia"'

1. Population genetic structure of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) at the northern edge of the Pannonian Basin.

Author: Mikulíček, Peter, Papežík, Petr, Danko, Stanislav, Dankovics, Róbert, Gruľa, Daniel, Halpern, Bálint, Havaš, Peter, Heltai, Botond, Horváth, Enikő, Kušík, Tomáš, Puchala, Peter, Schindler, Maria, Vongrej, Viliam, and Uhrin, Marcel
Subjects: GENETIC drift, GENETIC variation, EMYDIDAE, MICROSATELLITE repeats, CYTOCHROME b
Abstract: Populations of plants and animals at the edge of a species' range may exhibit lower genetic diversity due to a combination of historical (e.g., postglacial dispersal) and contemporary (e.g., low effective population size, strong genetic drift or bottlenecks) processes. In this study, we analysed the genetic structure of populations of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the northern part of the Pannonian Basin (Slovakia, Hungary, Austria), which represents the edge of the species' range. Using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers, we aimed to assign individuals and populations into phylogeographic lineages and to determine genetic variation and population structure. Our study revealed that most individuals from natural populations belong to mtDNA lineage II (widely distributed haplotype IIa, and likely endemic haplotypes IIl and IIo), which is typical for the whole Pannonian region. However, non-native haplotypes were detected in one Slovak population (haplotype Ib) and in the Austrian Donau Auen National Park (haplotype IVa). Microsatellite markers revealed high variability comparable to that in other parts of the range, suggesting that marginal populations may not necessarily have reduced genetic diversity. A genetically mixed population was found in the Donau Auen National Park, consisting of turtles belonging to mtDNA lineage II (taxonomically assessed as subspecies E. orbicularis orbicularis) and lineage IV (taxonomically assessed as E. orbicularis hellenica), which is native to the circum-Adriatic region. The admixture suggests intense hybridization and introgression between the two lineages (subspecies). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2024
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2. A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana state, India.

Author: Srinivasulu, Chelmala and Kumar, Gandla Chethan
Subjects: HERPETOFAUNA, WILDLIFE conservation, TURTLES, WILDLIFE conservation laws, CROCODILES, CROCODILIANS, AMPHIBIANS
Abstract: A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana, India including accepted English name, scientific name along with authority, Telugu and vernacular name, IUCN, Indian Wildlife Protection Act and CITES status, and endemicity is presented in this paper. The herpetofauna diversity of Telangana is represented by 98 species including 16 species of amphibians belonging to four families, one species of crocodile, six species of testudines, 35 species of saurians and 40 species of snakes. Three species-Hemidactylus flavicaudus, H. xericolus, and H. aemulus-are endemic to Telangana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2022
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3. A new subspecies of the Asiatic softshell turtle Amyda ornata (Gray, 1861) from its northern distribution range.

Author: Praschag, Peter and Gemel, Richard
Subjects: SOFT-shelled turtles, SPECIES distribution, NATURAL history museums, TAXONOMY, HERPETOLOGY
Abstract: We describe a new subspecies of Amyda ornata (Gray, 1861) from the southeastern parts of Bangladesh (Chittagong hill tracts), adjacent regions of north-eastern India (Mizoram, Assam and Tripura) and Myanmar, based on morphological characteristics. The holotype comprises some skeletal elements held by the Natural History Museum of Vienna; the five paratypes consist of living specimens in the private collection of PP "Turtle Island" (a turtle conservation zoo in Graz, Austria). After the genetic identity had been determined in a previous investigation, the morphological description was carried out by examining living specimens and photo documents; and additionally, by evaluating the computed tomography of further living animals with exact location data. Amyda ornata jongli ssp. nov. differs from the other Amyda ornata subspecies mainly by its relatively compact and stout head in subadults and adults, its paler, greyish and less contrasting colouration missing distinct bright yellow pigments, ochre-coloured irises, and the existence of more distinct tubercles in the neck region and in the posterior section of the carapace than both other subspecies of Amyda ornata. The tubercles along the front of the carapace protrude clearly in subadult and adult specimens. This softshell turtle is heavily exploited within its limited distribution. Therefore, special comments on conservation aspects are given together with a final discussion on distribution and systematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2022
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4. On the Brink of Extinction: Results of a 20-Year Quest for Eiselt's Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis eiselti) in Southeastern Turkey.

Author: Ayaz, Dinçer, Bayrakci, Yusuf, Çiçek, Kerim, Ihlow, Flora, Tok, Cemal Varol, and Fritz, Uwe
Subjects: *EMYDIDAE, *HABITAT conservation, *BORDERLANDS, *SUBSPECIES, *TURTLES
Abstract: Eiselt's pond turtle (Emys orbicularis eiselti) was described in 1998, based on only 4 museum specimens collected in the 1960s and 1970s. Its distribution range has been massively reduced by large-scale drainage measures and only little suitable habitat remains near the Turkish–Syrian border. During 20-yr-long fieldwork we could locate only 18 individuals of this subspecies. We estimate the number of surviving Eiselt's pond turtles to be less than 100 mature individuals in the wild. The distribution range (area of occupancy) in the Amik Maraş Rift Valley shrank from originally 11,612 km2 to only 206 km2 at present (approx. 2%), qualifying E. o. eiselti as a Critically Endangered taxon. Without immediate conservation measures and the strict protection of the remaining habitat, the subspecies will soon be extinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2021
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5. Distribution and Relative Abundance of the Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis).

Author: Enge, Kevin M., Stevenson, Dirk J., Thomas, Travis M., Johnston, Gerald R., Jensen, John B., Stegenga, Benjamin S., Chandler, Houston C., and Moler, Paul E.
Subjects: *ALLIGATORS, *TURTLES, *DRAINAGE, *SWAMPS, *REPTILES, *ELECTRON traps
Abstract: The Suwannee alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) was first described in 2014. The species is thought to occur in blackwater and spring-fed streams of sufficient size throughout the Suwannee River drainage, but we have limited detailed information regarding its range. To clarify the distribution of M. suwanniensis, we compiled 111 museum, 16 literature, and 40 other credible records and trapped streams throughout the Suwannee drainage in Georgia and Florida, plus 8 streams in the Big Bend region of Florida (total of 1893 trap nights). We documented the first records from the Willacoochee River and Okapilco, Piscola, Warrior, Jones, and Toms creeks in Georgia and from Rocky and Olustee creeks in Florida. Relative abundance based on catch per unit effort (CPUE) varied among streams (0.00–0.50) and sections of the same stream. Macrochelys suwanniensis is apparently scarce in the Okefenokee Swamp and in the Suwannee River upstream of White Springs, Florida (none trapped), but it occurs in small blackwater tributaries in this section of the river in both states. In the Suwannee River between White Springs and the estuary, we had a mean CPUE of 0.25, and the highest trapping success in Florida was in downstream reaches of the Suwannee River and in its major tributaries, the Santa Fe and New rivers. The species is widely distributed in Georgia, but relative abundance in most streams appears lower than in Florida. In Georgia, we had the highest trapping success in the Alapaha drainage and in sections of the Little River and Okapilco Creek in the Withlacoochee drainage. In Florida, we failed to trap Macrochelys in the purported distribution gap between the Suwannee and Ochlockonee drainages and in the Wacasassa River to the south, indicating that this species is restricted to the Suwannee drainage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2021
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6. Home Range, Site Fidelity, and Movement Patterns of the Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) at the Southwestern Edge of Its Range.

Author: Otten, Joshua G., Hulbert, Austin C., Berg, Samuel W., and Tamplin, Jeffrey W.
Subjects: *WILDLIFE conservation, *RIPARIAN areas, *HABITAT conservation, *TURTLES, *GENE flow, *HABITATS, *HABITAT selection
Abstract: Wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) are considered rare or threatened throughout their range. Populations in Iowa occur at the western periphery of the species' range and may be particularly vulnerable to extirpation due to low population density, geographic isolation with restricted opportunities for gene flow, a small range, and a high percentage of land that has been converted for agriculture. To improve our understanding of the ecological needs of the species and to provide targeted conservation of required habitat, determining home range size, site fidelity, and movement patterns is needed. We conducted a 2-yr radiotelemetry study on wood turtles in Iowa to provide baseline data on movement patterns (including estimated total distance moved in an active season and mean daily movement) and home range size and site fidelity between years of survey. Home range size of adult male and female wood turtles differed significantly for 100%, 95%, and 50% minimum convex polygon home range, with male mean home range being nearly 3 times the mean size of female home range. Stream home range length also differed significantly between males and females, with males utilizing a larger portion of lotic habitat. Both sexes showed a high degree of site fidelity to annual home ranges but not to specific overwintering locations. Our study provides important data on home range size, degree of site fidelity, and movement patterns of wood turtles from an isolated population in Iowa at the southwest periphery of the species' range. These data will inform conservation agencies on relevant habitat protection and management strategies of riparian areas that are necessary for the continued survival and protection of the species in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2021
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7. What Are the Primary Cues Used by Mammalian Predators to Locate Freshwater Turtle Nests? A Critical Review of the Evidence

Author: Gregory A. Geller and Scott L. Parker
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, freshwater turtles, Procyon lotor, raccoon, sensory cues, Evolution, QH359-425, Ecology, QH540-549.5
Abstract: Turtle biologists have long been interested in the biotic and abiotic factors that influence the detection of freshwater turtle nests by mammalian predators. Increased knowledge of nest predation dynamics may help develop conservation strategies to increase turtle nesting success by altering or reducing the signal strength of predominant nest location cues. However, despite this long-standing interest, the related research has produced inconsistent and sometimes conflicting results across studies. Here we review much of the existing literature on freshwater turtle nest predation by mammalian predators and attempt to synthesize some general, underlying themes. Available data suggest that raccoons (Procyon lotor) primarily use olfactory cues associated with nest cavity construction to locate turtle nests. However, some other predators, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and other canids, may commonly use a wider array of cues, including scents from nesting turtles and their eggs as well as visual cues, while foraging. The literature also suggests that the length of the period turtle nests remain vulnerable to nest predation is dependent on the predator community, with raccoons exhibiting relatively short timelines relative to some other predators, including canids. This review has revealed a strong North American bias in published work, highlighting the need for additional studies of turtle nest predation dynamics in other areas of the world where chelonians are often imperiled elements of the biota.
Published: 2022
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8. Urban Turtle Project: Using Citizen Science to Document Freshwater Turtle Communities and Populations in Birmingham, Alabama, with Focus on Alabama Map Turtles (Graptemys pulchra).

Author: Coleman, Andrew T.
Subjects: *TURTLE populations, *TURTLES, *CITIZEN science, *POPULATION ecology, *CITY dwellers
Abstract: Long-term data sets are critical in assessing populations of long-lived species such as turtles. The Urban Turtle Project was initiated in 2018 to begin building a long-term data set on the demography and ecology of the turtle populations in various urban waterways of Birmingham, Alabama. Another goal of the project is to increase public awareness of the state's impressive chelonian diversity by employing citizen scientists on semiannual sampling weekends. In its 2-yr existence, 52 participants volunteered over 200 hrs during 4 sampling weekends, with 16 volunteering for multiple weekends. Over 200 turtles of 10 species were sampled, with the majority of captures (n = 83) being Alabama map turtles (Graptemys pulchra), a historically understudied species. Collected demographic and reproductive data contribute to a better understanding of natural history of G. pulchra and how this and other species exist in an urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2020
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9. Nest Site Fidelity of Northern Map Turtles, Graptemys geographica.

Author: Nagle, Roy D. and Russell, Travis J.
Subjects: *ANIMAL mortality, *WILDLIFE conservation, *NESTS, *TURTLES, *POLLUTANTS, *RADIO transmitters & transmission, *RIVER conservation
Abstract: Northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica) are a species of conservation concern with a limited distribution in Pennsylvania. We examined nest site fidelity of G. geographica along the Juniata River at Mount Union, the largest reported nesting area in the commonwealth. Nesting habitat included a mitigation area bordering a highway, partitioned by a turtle exclusion fence, and an adjacent pile of coal tailings. A linear grid along the turtle fence allowed us to determine distances between nests of individual females. Our results indicate that female G. geographica at Mount Union exhibit nest site fidelity, as the frequency distribution of distances between nests of individual females was positively skewed, and distances between nests (both within and among seasons) were smaller than distances between randomly selected pairs of nests from different individuals. Females placed different clutches of eggs as close together as 0.30 m. Within-season (first and second clutch) internest distances were significantly smaller than internest distances among years, which increased over time. We also attached radio transmitters to a sample of adult females following nesting to determine the extent of riverine migrations, as long-distance nesting migrations are associated with fidelity to particular nesting sites. Following nesting, 2 females remained in the river near the Mount Union nesting habitat and 3 females moved downstream 4.3–5.6 km, yet all of the turtles returned to their previous nesting areas the following summer. Nest site fidelity can benefit map turtles if the habitat remains stable, results in high nest survivorship, and produces high-quality hatchlings, yet the behavior may be detrimental if it exposes turtles to significant risks such as road mortality or environmental contaminants. Our results indicate that maintaining long-term nesting habitat and ensuring suitable river quality at Mount Union may be essential for the conservation of G. geographica in central Pennsylvania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2020
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10. Population Status of the Megacephalic Map Turtles Graptemys pearlensis and Graptemys gibbonsi and Recommendations Regarding Their Listing Under the US Endangered Species Act.

Author: Lindeman, Peter V., Gibson, Ashley G., Selman, Will, Jones, Robert L., Brown, Grover J., Huntzinger, Cybil C., and Qualls, Carl P.
Subjects: *HABITAT modification, *ENDANGERED species listing, *TURTLES, *NUMBERS of species, *SPECIES, *WATER quality
Abstract: The Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) and Pearl map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis) were first separated from the Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) in 1992 under the former name and subsequently recognized as 2 separate species in 2010. The possibility that they should be listed under the Endangered Species Act was raised 7 yrs after separation from G. pulchra, when basking surveys showed that at most sites they were considerably less abundant than 2 sympatric congeners listed as threatened: the Pearl River drainage's ringed sawback (Graptemys oculifera, listed in 1986) and the Pascagoula River drainage's yellow-blotched sawback (Graptemys flavimaculata, listed in 1991). Historical data also indicated that the sympatric species pairs may once have been more similar in abundance. Now, more than 2 decades later, G. gibbonsi and G. pearlensis are candidates for listing. From 2015 to 2018, we surveyed basking turtles in point counts and in jon boat and canoe surveys and conducted trapping at several sites to ascertain the status of the 2 candidate species. Data were also combined with similar data collected between 2006 and 2014. Despite their similarity morphologically and in their basic ecology, 3 important differences are pertinent to the question of whether the 2 candidate species should be federally protected. First, their river systems are geomorphically very different. The medium-size to large tributary streams that the 2 species inhabit are a considerably more prominent feature of the Pascagoula drainage than the Pearl drainage and may insulate populations from potential threats on the main stems. Second, G. gibbonsi inhabited 35% more stream reach, had 22% higher catch per unit effort, and were recorded at 44% higher numbers in point counts and 3% higher numbers in basking density surveys than G. pearlensis. Coarse-scale estimates of each species' global populations suggest that G. gibbonsi is ∼ 1.56 times as abundant as G. pearlensis overall. Third, the reasons for the listing of each species' sympatric sawback congener are very different: G. oculifera of the Pearl drainage was listed primarily due to existing and imminent but as-yet-unrealized habitat modification, while G. flavimaculata of the Pascagoula drainage was listed primarily due to perceived low populations, particularly in upper portions of the drainage, and concerns regarding water quality. We conclude that G. pearlensis warrants conservation protection via a listing as threatened, while G. gibbonsi should be listed either as threatened or as threatened by similarity of appearance. For G. gibbonsi, the former option would recognize a long-term historical decline in its relative abundance suggested by trapping data from the 1950s through 1970s, while the latter would recognize its less imperiled status and protect it from the pet trade while focusing recovery efforts on G. pearlensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2020
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11. Basal Reptilians, Marine Diapsids, and Turtles: The Flowering of Reptile Diversity

Author: Sobral, Gabriela, Reisz, Robert, Neenan, James M., Müller, Johannes, Scheyer, Torsten M., Fay, Richard R., Series editor, Popper, Arthur N., Series editor, Clack, Jennifer A., editor, and Fay, Richard R, editor
Published: 2016
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12. Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea

Author: Ignacio De la Riva, Alberto Sánchez Vialas, and Marta Calvo
Subjects: Reptilia, Varanidae, Pythonidae, Nuevos registros, Agamidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Golfo de Guinea, Lamprophiidae, Crocodylia, Trionychidae, Squamata, Viperidae, Animalia, Pelomedusidae, Natricidae, Elapidae, Chordata, Gekkonidae, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Taxonomy, Bioko, Taxonomía, África Central, Colubridae, Biodiversity, Chamaeleonidae, Amphisbaenidae, Typhlopidae, Río Muni, Boidae, Testudinidae, Annobon, Crocodylidae, Testudines, Animal Science and Zoology, Scincidae, Lacertidae, Catálogo
Abstract: We present a comprehensive catalogue of the reptiles of Equatorial Guinea, consisting of 118 species belonging to 67 genera and 22 families. There are two species of Crocodylia, ten of Testudines and 106 of Squamata; this last taxon is represented by 62 species of snakes, two amphisbaenians and 42 lizards. Of these 118 species, seven are present only in Annobon, seven only in Bioko, 47 only in Río Muni, 53 occur both in Bioko and Río Muni (or Bioko, Río Muni and other islands), and four are sea turtles. Despite its high diversity, the level of endemism of Bioko is relatively low, with only four endemic species out of the 60 species reported for the island. In contrast, despite its low diversity, Annobon has the highest endemicity level, with five endemic species (and two introduced). No endemic species are known for the rest of the regions of Equatorial Guinea, which contain 100 species. We reveal several new country and species records, and point to some pending taxonomic questions to be addressed. Among the new species records, we highlight the presence of Cyclanorbis elegans, which represents the most meridional known population of the genus. Additional species are expected to be found in Equatorial Guinea as further field and taxonomic work is developed.
Published: 2022

13. Preliminary report on Southeast Asia’s Oldest Cenozoic Turtle Fauna from the Late Middle Eocene Pondaung Formation, Myanmar

Author: Hutchison, J. Howard, Holroyd, Patricia A., and Ciochon, Russell L.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Carettochelyidae, Burmemys, Myanmar, Pondaung Formation, Paleontology, Eocene
Abstract: Late middle Eocene fossils from the Pondaung Formation of central Myanmar document Southeast Asia’soldest Cenozoic turtle fauna. Although the material is fragmentary, seven distinct turtle taxa are recognized. Theseinclude a podocmenid pleurodire, anosteirine and carettochelyine carettochelyids, two or more trionychine trionychids,and a testudinid. Of these, only the carettochelyine carettochelyid is complete enough to recognize as a newtaxon, Burmemys magnifica, gen. et sp. nov. The Pondaung turtle fauna is one of the best known of its age fromSoutheast Asia but comparisons with the limited literature of the Eocene faunas from China, Mongolia, and the Indiansubcontinent indicate it is probably biogeographically unique. Among the recognized genera, only Anosteira is knownfrom other Eocene Asian localities, and the presence of pleurodires is unusual.
Published: 2004

14. Cyclemys dentata

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Cyclemys dentata, Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Cyclemys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Cyclemys dentata (Gray, 1831) — Native. Emys dentata Gray, 1831: 20, unnumbered errata page (between pp. 78 and 79), unnumbered pl. caption, pls. 8, 9. Lectotype: BMNH 1946.1.22.62 (formerly 1828.5.12.1), designated by Fritz et al. (1997: 188); paralectotypes (8): BMNH 1946.1.22.63, designated by Fritz et al. (1997: 188), OUM 8512– 13 and 8867, according to Nowak-Kemp & Fritz (2010: 11), and RMNH.RENA.6062–63, 6067, and 40474, according to Hoogmoed et al. (2010: 166); all of these specimens are listed as syntypes in Iverson (2022: 23); OUM 8512–13 are also syntypes of Cyclemys orbiculata (Nowak-Kemp & Fritz 2010: 11), and RMNH.RENA.6062 has been identified as C. enigmatica by Hoogmoed et al. (2010: 167). Type locality: “Bengal … Java” (= Bangladesh and Java, Indonesia); later restricted to “Java”, Indonesia by Smith (1931: 80). Asian Leaf Terrapin (Figure 9C) Singapore records. Cyclemys dentata —K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 151.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—van Dijk, 2000: 20.— Auliya, 2007: 46–47.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 174, 266 (Central Catchment Reserve; Western Catchment Area).—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 122, 159.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 122, 159.—Thomas & N. Baker, 2014: 176 (Lower Peirce Forest).—TTWG, 2021: 221. “ Cyclemys ” — P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. No publication exists recounting the first record of C. dentata from Singapore, but it first appeared in Lim & Chou’s (1990) checklist. The only published records are of an individual seen at WC in 2006, one observed at CCNR in 2007 (Lim et al. 2008), and one photographed in a stream at LPF on 1 June 2014 (Fig. 9C) (Thomas & Baker 2014). One was also seen at NSSF on 10 December 2016 (I.S. Law pers. comm.). However, LKCNHM has two specimens from Pulau Senang dated June 1951 and MNHN has a specimen that was collected at an unknown date. As C. dentata inhabits forest streams, which are absent from Pulau Senang, the two individuals were evidently released there. There is a possibility that specimen MNHN-RA-0.1309 may be the oldest record of C. dentata from Singapore given that all of MNHN Singapore specimens were collected prior to the early 1900s. Cyclemys dentata was listed as possibly extinct from Singapore by Auliya (2007), but the above records prove that it still thrives in Singapore. Occurrence. Restricted to a few locations in CCNR and WC. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Near-Threatened [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Pulau Senang: ZRC.2.80–ZRC.2.81 (Jun-1951). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): MNHN. Singapore localities. Central Catchment Reserve—Lower Peirce Forest—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Pulau Senang*—Western Catchment Area., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Fritz, U., Gaulke, M. & Lehr, E. (1997) Revision der s ¸ dostasiatischen dornschildkr ˆ ten-gattung Cyclemys Bell, 1834, mit beschreibung einer neuen art. Salamandra, 33, 183 - 212.","Hoogmoed, M. S., Gasso Miracle, M. E. & van den Hoek Ostende, L. W. (2010) Type specimens of recent and fossil Testudines and Crocodylia in the collections of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. Zoologische Mededelingen, 84 (8), 159 - 199.","Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","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, s. n., 99 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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15. Heosemys grandis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Heosemys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Heosemys grandis, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Heosemys grandis (Gray, 1860) — Non-native; Established. Geoemyda grandis Gray, 1860:218. Syntypes (2): BMNH 1947.3.4.7(formerly 1860.8.28.1)and 1947.3.4.55 (formerly 1860.8.28.2), by original designation; BMNH 1947.3.4.56 (formerly 1861.6.1.7) may also be a syntype as it is listed as one in BMNH catalogue, according to Iverson (2022: 25). Type locality: “ Cambojia ” (= Cambodia). Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Figure 9D) Singapore records. Geoemyda grandis — Hanitsch, 1898: 9.—Ridley, 1899: 205. Geodyma [sic] grandis —F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18. Heosemys grandis —B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 72.— Auliya, 2007: 52–53.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26.—Ng T.H. & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 126 (Seletar Airbase).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—Fung & K.K.P. Lim, 2013: 120. (Upper Seletar Reservoir Park).—S.K. Tan & K.K.P. Lim, 2013b: 115 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—Khong & K.K.P. Lim, 2014: 205 (Springside Avenue).—I.S. Law, 2014c: 255 (Venus Drive [WNP]).—R. Subaraj, 2015: 52 (Project Western Boundary [= MBP]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 5 (Project Western Boundary [= MBP]).— Andersen et al., 2021: 3.—Mehta & K.K.P. Lim, 2021: 1 (Windsor Nature Park). Hieremys annandalii —Chow & K.K.P. Lim, 2017: 21 (Venus Drive [WNP]). Remarks. The native distribution of H. grandis covers Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Peninsular Malaysia (TTWG 2021). Early records of H. grandis in Singapore (Hanitsch 1898: 19; Ridley 1899) were misidentified and later revealed to be Siebenrockiella crassicollis and Notochelys platynota by Flower (1899). The N. platynota specimen was from Seletar, but the S. crassicollis specimen was from Myanmar or Penang, Peninsular Malaysia (Hanitsch 1912b). Lim (1984) commented that H. grandis is found in Singapore, but did not reference or mention any records. As follows, the first actual account of H. grandis in Singapore comes from an individual found at Seletar Airbase on 11 September 2005 (Ng & Lim 2010). The next record is from 26 September 2010 of an individual observed in NSSF (Tan & Lim 2013b), and another was seen at NSSF on 20 July 2011 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) demonstrating that H. grandis infiltrated CNR. Apparently, H. grandis has established breeding populations as evident by a hatchling observed on 5 May 2012 at USRP (Fung & Lim 2013) and a juvenile caught at Springside Avenue on 17 July 2014 (Khong & Lim 2014). Heosemys grandis has also been recorded at Mandai (R. Subaraj 2015; S. Subaraj 2015), Jurong Lake Gardens in January 2017 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.), Kranji Reservoir Park in April 2021 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) (Fig. 9D), and multiple times at WNP on 13 December 2010, 7 August 2014, 18 December 2016, and 19 May 2021 (Law 2014c; Chow & Lim 2017; Mehta & Lim 2021) revealing that it is widespread throughout Singapore. Given H. grandis’ widespread distribution in Singapore and the presence of young individuals, we declare it as established in Singapore. Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon. Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable. Conservation priority. None, non-native species. IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Kranji Reservoir Park—Jurong Lake Gardens—Mandai Bird Park—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Seletar Airbase—Springside Avenue—Upper Seletar Reservoir Park—Windsor Nature Park., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 77-78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Lim, F. L. K. (1984) Reptile and amphibian encounters. In: Wee, Y. - C. (Ed.), Nature in an Urban Singapore. Proceedings of the Seminar on Nature in an Urban Singapore. Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 17 - 19.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. (2013 b) Call of the masked swamp frog. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013, 81.","Law, I. S. (2014 c) Giant Asian pond terrapin at Venus Drive forest. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 255.","Andersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., Silva, R. da, Pfau, B. & Conde, D. A. (2021) Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in Brief, 34, 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. dib. 2020.106708","Lim, K. K. P. (2017) Blue-necked keelback at Upper Seletar. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2017, 53.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Fung, T. K. & Lim, K. K. P. (2013) Giant Asian pond terrapin hatchling at Upper Seletar. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013, 120.","Khong, S. & Lim, K. K. P. (2014) Giant Asian pond terrapin at Springside estate. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 205.","Chow, L. S. Y. & Lim, K. K. P. (2017) A probable yellow-headed temple terrapin at Venus Drive. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2017, 21.","Mehta, D. & Lim, K. K. P. (2021) Biodiversity Record: Repeat sightings of a giant Asian pond terrapin over a decade. Nature in Singapore, 14 (e 2021081), 1 - 2."]}
Published: 2023
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16. Chelydra serpentina

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Chelydra, Testudines, Chelydridae, Animalia, Chelydra serpentina, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758) — Non-native; Introduced. Common Snapping Turtle Singapore records. Chelydra serpentina —T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—A.- L. Chang & T. Koh, 2011: 205. Chelydra sp. —Kwan et al., 2015: 97–98 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve). Remarks. Chelydra serpentina is native to southeastern Canada and eastern United States (TTWG 2021). One individual was photographed at MR on 12 February 2009 (B.L. Chong pers. comm.) and March 2009 (Ng & Lim 2010), and a carcass of one was found at SBWR in 2014 (Kwan et al. 2015). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve: ZRC.2.7304 (30-Jul-2014). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Genus Macrochelys Gray 1856 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 245, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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17. Podocnemis unifilis Troschel 1848

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Podocnemis, Reptilia, Podocnemis unifilis, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Podocnemididae, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848 — Non-native; Introduced. Yellow-spotted River Turtle Singapore records. Podocnemis unifilis — K.S. Chua, 2018: 108 (Sungei Tampines [PRP]). Remarks. Native to South America (TTWG 2021), one individual of P. unifilis was seen basking on an overhanging branch at Sungei Tampines on 21 July 2018 (Chua 2018). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Family Testudinidae Batsch, 1788 (4 species) Genus Centrochelys Fitzinger, 1835 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 249, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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18. Lepidochelys olivacea

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Cheloniidae, Lepidochelys, Testudines, Lepidochelys olivacea, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829) — Visitor. Chelonia olivacea Eschscholtz, 1829a: 3–4, pl. 3. Type material: None designated; two syntypes originally at MZT and transferred to ZMMU apparently lost, according to Flores-Villela et al. (2016: 161); one of the syntypic figures (pl. 3) is reproduced in Flores-Villela et al. (2016: 161). Type locality: “[d]as Vaterland ist das chinesische Meer … in der Bai von Manilla … bei Sumatra” (= Chinese Sea, Manilay Bay Philippines, and Sumatra, Indonesia). Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Figures 8D) Singapore records. Chelonia olivacea — Jan, 1857: 56. Lepidochelys olivacea — J.Y. Ng et al., 2019: 65–66 (East Coast Park).—TTWG, 2021: 97. “Olive Ridley turtles”—Van Miriah, 2002: Local. Remarks. Lepidochelys olivacea occupies tropical waters throughout the globe, and is listed by TTWG (2021) as foraging in Singapore and nesting in Malaysia. The first record of L. olivacea from Singapore comes from Jan (1857) who reported a specimen from Singapore deposited at MSNM. Information and the whereabouts of the specimen is unknown and we found no other publications that reference Jan’s record. The RMNH also contains a specimen from Singapore (RMNH.RENA.37880) that lacks any data. For 161 years (Table 2), no other records of L. olivacea from Singapore were made until a carcass of one was found at ECP on 25 August 2018 (Ng et al. 2019). The carapace of the turtle had a crack suggesting it was wounded by a boat (Ng et al. 2019). Before this, turtles confiscated from illegal traders by AVA that included C. caretta, C. mydas, E. imbricata, and L. olivacea were released by Underwater World Singapore at Siloso Beach on 6 June 2002 (Van Miriah 2002), but we do not consider this as a valid record of L. olivacea. As L. olivacea nests in Malaysia (Moll 1976), it is likely that it forages or transits through Singapore. Occurrence. Visitor. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated. Conservation priority. Lowest. IUCN conservation status. Vulnerable [2008]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): RMNH. Singapore localities. East Coast Park*., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 70-71, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Flores-Villela, O., Adler, K. & Eimermacher, T. G. (2016) Identity of three new sea turtles named by J. Friedrich Eschscholtz. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 15 (1), 157 - 162. https: // doi. org / 10.2744 / CCB- 1190.1","Jan, G. (1857) Cenni sul Museo Civico di Milano ed indice sistematico dei rettili ed anfibi. Luigi di Giacomo Pirola, Milano, 64 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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19. Amyda cartilaginea

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Trionychidae, Reptilia, Amyda cartilaginea, Amyda, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Amyda cf. cartilaginea (Boddaert, 1770) — Native. Testudo cartilaginea Boddaert 1770: 1. Holotype: MNHN 4150, by original designation. Type locality: None stated/traced; later designated as “Java”, Indonesia by Baur (1893: 220). Asian Softshell Turtle (Figure 9H) Singapore records. Trionyx cartilagineus — Hanitsch, 1898: 19.— Flower, 1899: 621.— Hanitsch, 1899:12 (Botanic Gardens).— Ridley, 1899: 187, 205.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14.—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 48.—Sharma, 1973: 234.— F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18.—L.M. Chou & Lam, 1989: 92. ? Trionyx cartilagineus —K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988b: 51 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest). Amyda cartilaginea —K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Seletar Reservoir Park [USRP).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—Yong, 1990: 27.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 68.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 138, 151 (Mandai).—K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (Seletar Reservoir).—P.K.L. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 1992: 260 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—R. Subaraj, 1994: 14 (MacRitchie Reservoir Park).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (Lornie Forest; MacRitchie Park [MRP]).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 393 (Lornie Forest; Lower Peirce East Forest [LPF]; Nee Soon Range [NSSF]; Ulu Sembawang Forest).—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 39.—van Dijk, 2000: 22.—Iskandar, 2000: 79.—Tana et al., 2000: 57.— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Auliya, 2007: 78–79.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2007: 193.— Jensen & Das, 2008: 136.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 266.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 126, 159.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26, 53, 203.— Das, 2010: 176. T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 121, 126 (Kranji Reservoir; Upper Peirce Reservoir; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo et al., 2010: 194.—T.M. Leong & Gan, 2011: 27.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 462.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 126, 159.—N. Baker, 2014d: 272 (Lower Peirce Forest).— Auliya et al., 2016: 92.1, 92.11.—Wijedasa & Y. Lim, 2016: 53 (Singapore Botanic Gardens).—W. Wong, 2017: 64.—N. Baker, 2020b: 29 (Thomson Nature Park).—L. Cui et al., 2020, 2652.— Andersen et al., 2021: 3, 4.—TTWG, 2021: 316.— Kurniawan et al., 2022: 107. Amyda ornata —H.H. Tan et al., 2015: 122 (Mandai Lake Road). Remarks. Similar to C. amboinensis, the population of A. cf. cartilaginea in Singapore consists of wild and released individuals (Ng & Lim 2010). Amyda cf. cartilaginea is considered to occur naturally only in CNR (Baker & Lim 2012), with individuals found outside CNR likely being released individuals since this species was commonly traded for food (Sharma 1973; Auliya et al. 2016). For example, one individual was found and photographed in a drain at Tampines on 9 October 2012 (I. Kwan pers. comm.). Yet, various animals are frequently released within CNR (e.g., Ng & Lim 2010), including the individual shown in Figure 9H which was photographed in the pond at the entrance of WNP on 7 July 2020. From 2005 to 2013, between 2,127 and 24,040 individuals of A. cf. cartilaginea were imported into Singapore from Indonesia for food (Auliya et al. 2016), with prices reaching upwards of USD 21 per kg (Andersen et al. 2021). To address the status of A. cf. cartilaginea in Singapore, the genetic diversity of individuals across Singapore needs to be tested. Amyda cartilaginea represents a species complex with three species recognised (Fritz et al. 2014). Amyda ornata was resurrected for mainland Southeast Asia populations, specifically north of Thailand (Fritz et al. 2014; TTWG 2021). Populations from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore were not analysed, but are believed to correspond to A. cartilaginea maculosa from Sumatra and northwestern Borneo (Fritz et al. 2014; TTWG 2021). In Singapore, A. cf. cartilaginea was first recorded in 1898 by Hanitsch (1898) from two specimens caught by Ridley at SBG (Hanitsch 1899). However, Hanitsch (1899) believed the two individuals were released there. Amyda cf. cartilaginea was not reported from Singapore again until 66 years later when Johnson (1964) noted that it was not uncommon in CCNR. The next documented field observation of A. cf. cartilaginea was on 1 August 1988 when one was spotted in a stream at NSSF (Lim & Lim 1988b). However, Yong (1990) informs of four specimens deposited at LKCNHM: Ridley’s specimen above; one collected by Smith in 1901 at an unknown locality; one collected by Falshaw in 1907 from an unknown locality, and; one collected in 1955 by the Singapore Fisheries Research Station at an unknown locality. Occurrence. Restricted to CNR and surrounding Nature Parks and forests. Uncommon. Singapore conservation status. Vulnerable. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Vulnerable [2000]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.24 (1901), ZRC.2.137 (no date); Botanic Gardens : ZRC.2.131 (Sep-1898); Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.2.2593 (21-Apr-1990); Seletar Reservoir : ZRC. 2.2600 (04-May-1990); Seletar Reservoir Park [USRP] : ZRC.2.3207 (25-Oct-1990); Sime Road Forest : ZRC.2.6854 (13-Dec-2008); Singapore Fisheries Research Station : ZRC.2.2528 (22- Nov-1955); Upper Seletar Reservoir : ZRC. 2.6934 (30-Nov-2007); Venus Drive [WNP] : ZRC.2.6932 (22-Nov-2010). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): CAS, USNM, ZMH. Singapore localities. Kranji Reservoir—Lornie Forest—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir Park— MacRitchie Reservoir Park—Mandai—Mandai Lake Road—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Seletar Reservoir (not specified)—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve— Tampines—Thomson Nature Park—Ulu Sembawang Forest—Upper Peirce Reservoir—Upper Seletar Reservoir Park—Windsor Nature Park. Genus Dogania Gray, 1844 (1 species) Dogania Gray, 1844: 46, 49 (type species: Trionyx subplanus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809, by monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 82-83, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Baur, G. (1893) Notes on the classification and taxonomy of the Testudinata. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 31, 210 - 225.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Hanitsch, R. (1899) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1898. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 7 - 16.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, F. L. K. (1984) Reptile and amphibian encounters. In: Wee, Y. - C. (Ed.), Nature in an Urban Singapore. Proceedings of the Seminar on Nature in an Urban Singapore. Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 17 - 19.","Chou, L. M. & Lam, T. J. (1989) Introduction of exotic aquatic species in Singapore. In: DeSilva, S. S. (Ed.), Exotic Aquatic Organisms in Asia. Proceedings of the Workshop on Introduction of Exotic Aquatic Organisms in Asia. Asian Fisheries Society Special Publication. No. 3. Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, pp. 91 - 97.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 b) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (3), 49 - 51.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Jensen, K. A. & Das, I. (2008) Dietary observations on the Asian softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 7 (1), 136 - 141. https: // doi. org / 10.2744 / CCB- 0659.1","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Leong, T. M. & Gan, J. W. M. (2011) Our Fragile Rainforest. National Parks Board, Singapore, 103 pp.","Baker, N. (2014 d) Asian softshell turtle at Lower Peirce forest. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 272.","Auliya, M., Dijk, P. P., van, Moll, E. O. & Meylan, P. A. (2016) Amyda cartilaginea (Boddaert 1770) - Asiatic Softshell Turtle, Southeast Asian Softshell Turtle. Chelonian Research Monographs, 5 (92), 1 - 17. https: // doi. org / 10.3854 / crm. 5.092. cartilaginea. v 1.2016","Lim, K. K. P., Chua, M. A. H. & Lim, N. T. - L. (2016) Freshwater fishes, terrestrial herpetofauna and mammals of Pulau Tekong, Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 9, 165 - 198.","Cui, L., Rao, D. & Zhang, M. (2020) The complete mitochondrial genome of Amyda cartilaginea (Testudines: Trionychidae). Mitochondrial DNA, Part B, 5 (3), 3652 - 3654. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 23802359.2020.1832595","Andersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., Silva, R. da, Pfau, B. & Conde, D. A. (2021) Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in Brief, 34, 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. dib. 2020.106708","Kurniawan, N., Septiadi, L., Fathoni, M., Kadafi, A. M. & Marhendra, A. P. W. (2022) A checklist of the herpetofauna of Nusa Kambangan Island, Central Java, Indonesia. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 33 (2), 91 - 131. https: // doi. org / 10.21315 / tlsr 2022.33.2.6","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp.","Fritz, U., Gemel, R., Kehlmaier, C., Vamberger, M. & Praschag, P. (2014) Phylogeography of the Asian softshell turtle Amyda cartilaginea (Boddaert, 1770): evidence for a species complex. Vertebrate Zoology, 64 (2), 229 - 243. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / vz. 64. e 31485","Gray, J. E. (1844) Catalogue of Tortoises, Crocodilians, and Amphisbaenians in the Collection of the British Museum. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, vii + 80 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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20. Orlitia borneensis Gray 1873

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Orlitia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Orlitia borneensis, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Orlitia borneensis Gray, 1873 — Non-native; Introduced. Malayan Giant Terrapin Singapore records. Orlitia borneensis —T.H. Ng & K.K. Lim, 2010: 123 (Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—M.A.H. Chua, 2014a: 45 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Upper Seletar Reservoir).— I.S. Law, Sankar & I.T. Law, 2014: 274 (Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Botanic Gardens; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 6, 7 (Night Safari; Singapore Zoo).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99 (Singapore Botanic Gardens).—W.L.J. Teo, 2022: 1 (Sime Road Forest). “ Orlitia ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Orlitia borneensis is the largest freshwater turtle in S.E. Asia and is native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo (TTWG 2021). Given its requirement for large rivers, O. borneensis cannot be native to Singapore since Singapore never had large rivers. As O. borneensis is trafficked for food, individuals were likely obtained as pets and subsequently released. Orlitia borneensis has been observed at LR, MR, Night Safari, SBG, Singapore Zoo, USR, and even NSSF (Ng & Lim 2010; Chua 2014a; Law et al. 2014; S. Subaraj 2015; Teo, 2022). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Central Catchment: ZRC.2.4731 (1993). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","Chua, M. A. H. (2014 a) Malaysian giant terrapin at Nee Soon swamp-forest. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 45.","Law, I. S., Sankar, A. & Law, I. T. (2014) Malaysian giant terrapin at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 274."]}
Published: 2023
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21. Batagur borneoensis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Batagur borneoensis, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Batagur, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Batagur borneoensis (Schlegel & M̧ller, 1844)— Native; Indeterminate. Emys borneoensis Schlegel & M̧ller 1845: 30. Syntypes (2): RMNH.RENA.3296 and 6210, by original designation; originally three syntypes, with the third apparently lost, “[t]he third specimen probably was exchanged with one of the large European museums” (Hoogmoed et al. 2010: 166). Type locality: “Borneo”, East Malaysia or Indonesia. Painted Terrapin (Figures 8H & 9A) Singapore records. Callagur picta — Hanitsch, 1899: 12 (“Seranggong Road Police Station” [Serangoon).—Ridley, 1899: 205.—Hanitsch, 1908: 39.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14. Callagur borneensis — de Rooij, 1915: 289–291. Callagur borneoensis —N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 168.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 168. Batagur borneoensis —T.H. Ng & Lim, 2010: 119, 121, 122 (Upper Seletar Reservoir).—M.E.Y. Low & Pocklington, 2019: 326. “ Callagur ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Batagur borneoensis is considered extirpated from Singapore (Ng & Lim 2010). However, some works do not list Singapore as part of its range (Auliya 2007; TTWG 2021). Hanitsch (1899) first reported on the occurrence of B. borneoensis in Singapore in the form of a live individual captured on 3 January 1899 near the Serangoon Road Police Station. He expressed that the Raffles Museum had two preserved specimens, but that his specimen represented the first authentic record. The LKCNHM currently has four additional specimens, all of which the localities are unknown and only two that are dated. In addition, there is one specimen at NHMUK, also with no data. Later, Hanitsch (1908) described B. borneoensis as the largest and rarest tortoise in Singapore. Based on the only dated museum record, it appears that 16 December 1961 was the last documented year of B. borneoensis in Singapore. Three more recent records of B. borneoensis were of released individuals seen at UPR on 15 June 2002 (Ng & Lim 2010), Circuit Road on 18 August 2013 (ACRES pers. comm.), and Punggol Beach on 9 September 2021 (Fig 9A). As B. borneoensis inhabits tidal areas of medium to large rivers and nests on beaches (Dunson & Moll 1980), it is likely that it has been extirpated from Singapore given the damming of rivers to create reservoirs and the loss of beaches due to development land reclamation. In performing species distribution modelling, Tan et al. (2022) identified SBWR as suitable habitat for B. borneoensis. Occurrence. Only known from one record and one museum specimen predating 1899. Likely extirpated. Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated. Conservation priority. Immediate priority, if rediscovered. IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1913.7.25.1 (no date); ZRC.2.122– ZRC.2.123 (16-Dec-1961), ZRC.2.175– ZRC.2.176AB (no date), ZRC.2.229 (no date). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Serangoon Road*—Upper Seletar Reservoir*., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 74-75, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Hoogmoed, M. S., Gasso Miracle, M. E. & van den Hoek Ostende, L. W. (2010) Type specimens of recent and fossil Testudines and Crocodylia in the collections of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. Zoologische Mededelingen, 84 (8), 159 - 199.","Hanitsch, R. (1899) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1898. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 7 - 16.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Dunson, W. A. & Moll, E. O. (1980) Osmoregulation in sea water of hatchling emydid turtles, Callagur borneoensis, from a Malaysian sea beach. Journal of Herpetology, 14 (1), 31 - 36. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1563872"]}
Published: 2023
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22. Nilssonia gangetica

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Nilssonia, Trionychidae, Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy, Nilssonia gangetica
Abstract: Nilssonia gangetica (Cuvier, 1825) — Erroneous. Ganges Soft-shelled Turtle Singapore records. No published records. Remarks. Specimen NMW-30266 was exchanged from what is now Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Trieste in 1881 and has the location Singapore. Clearly, the specimen was traded in Singapore as the native range of N. gangetica is Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal (TTWG 2021). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): NMW. Order Squamata Oppel, 1811 (61 species) Lizards (15 species) Family Agamidae Gray, 1827 (5 species) Genus Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 259-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1827) A synopsis of the genera of saurian reptiles, in which some new genera are indicated, and the others reviewed by actual examination. Philosophical Magazine, or Annals of Chemistry, Mathematics, Astronomy, Natural History, and General Science, 2, 54 - 58. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 14786442708675620"]}
Published: 2023
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23. Trachemys scripta

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Trachemys, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Emydidae, Taxonomy, Trachemys scripta
Abstract: Trachemys scripta (Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792) — Non-native; Established. Testudo scripta Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792 [in 1792–1801]: 16, 17, pl. 3, fig. 2. Holotype: UUZM 7455, previously considered lost and never given an original accession number, was rediscovered by Rhodin & Carr (2009: 12); specimen illustrated in figs. 4, 5 pl.3 labeled “Test. scripta Thunb.” (Schoepff 1792). Type locality: “[p]atria … ignota sunt” (= Not known); later restricted to “Charleston, South Carolina ”, USA by Schmidt (1953: 102). Red-eared Slider (Figure 8G; Punggol Point Jetty) Singapore records. Pseudemys scripta elegans —K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (Botanical Gardens; East Coast Park; MacRitchie Reservoir; Pandan Canal; Seaside Park [Siglap]).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988c: 77 (Botanic Gardens).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1989: 3 (Woodlands Town Garden).— K. Lim, 1989b: 21 (Sungai Loyang Canal; Upper Peirce Reservoir). Trachemys scripta elegans —K. Lim, 1989e: 39 (Bedok Reservoir; Marina South).—K. Lim, 1989h: 65 (Sime Road Forest).—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Marina South; Roller Skating Rink [Sentosa]; Sime Road [SRF]).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.P. & Subharaj, 1991d: 4 (Marina East).— K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 126, 151.—K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (Bedok Canal; East Coast Park; Lower Peirce Forest [LP]; Lower Peirce Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Marina East; Marina South; Sime Road Forest).—P.K.L. Ng, 1992a: 142.—P.K.L. Ng, 1992b: 142.—W.K. Tan, 1992: 28.—Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir Park).—K.K.P. Lim, 1993b: 3 (Bukit Timah Hill; Sime Road Forest).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1993: 20.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.— K.K.P. Lim & Subaraj, 1994: 7 (Sungei Buloh Nature Park [= SBWR]).—R. Subaraj, 1994: 14 (Sime Road Forest; Upper Peirce West [UPWF]).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 393 (Botanic Gardens).—Iskandar, 2000: 144.—B.P.L. Goh et al., 2002: 143.—T.Y. Goh & O’Riordan, 2007: 97, 98.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2007: 140.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 125, 165.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2008: 119, 123 (Pulau Tekong; Upper Seletar).—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 1–257 (Bedok Reservoir, Bishan Park, Botanic Gardens, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park, Bukit Panjang Park, Changi Beach, East Coast Park, Jurong Lake, Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Kranji Reservoir, Labrador Nature Reserve, Lower Peirce Reservoir, Lower Seletar Reservoir, MacRitchie Reservoir, Marina City Park, Night Safari, Pandan Reservoir, Punggol Park, St. John’s Island, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sungei Kangkar, Sungei Punggol, Sungei Serangoon, Sungei Tampines, Sungei Tengah, Tampines Quarry, Upper Peirce Reservoir, Upper Seletar Reservoir, West Coast Park, Woodlands Town Garden).— Das, 2010: 174.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—D.C.J. Yeo et al., 2010: 160.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2010: 183–184, 251.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480.—H.T.W. & K.K.P. Lim, 2011: 196.—D.C.J. Yeo et al., 2011: 102, 105.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 15, 125, 165.—K.K.P. Lim, 2013d: 119.—K.S. Chua, 2014: 262 (Hougang Avenue 10]).—K.W.C. Leong & K.K.P. Lim, 2014: 315–316 (Mountbatten).—K.K.P. Lim, 2014d: 225 (Botanic Gardens).—D.L. Yong et al., 2014: 203.—N. Baker, 2015a: 25.—N. Baker, 2015b: 56 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99, 100 (Botanic Gardens).—Wijedasa, 2015: 180 (Botanic Gardens).—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 176 (Pulau Tekong).—H.H. Tan, 2016a: 122 (Kent Ridge Park).—H.H. Tan, 2019: 160, 162 (Gardens by the Bay).—R.C.H. Teo & Thomas, 2019: 155, 179 (Catchment Pond [BTNR], after R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997; Hindhede Quarry).—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2019: 135 (Kent Ridge Park).—Allain & Goodman, 2020: 217, 218 (Singapore Botanic Gardens [Eco Lake]).—TTWG, 2021: 164.—E. Chong & D.C.J. Yeo, 2022: 1 (Seletar Park Connector).—Pocklington, 2022: 1. Trachemys scripta —Chan-ard et al., 1999: 40.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 96.— Auliya, 2007: 38–39.— R. Subaraj, 2015: 9, 32, 43, 46, 47 (Night Safari; Singapore Zoo; Upper Seletar Peninsula [= USNF]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 3, 6 (Singapore Zoo; Upper Seletar Peninsula [= USNF]). Trachemys scriptaelegans [sic]— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve). “Red-eared Terrapins”— Anonymous, 2014: 52 (Singapore Polytechnic). Trachemy [sic] scripta elegans — H.H. Tan & S. Tay, 2019: 136 (Kallang River). Remarks. Being the world’s most popular turtle in the pet trade, and with over 52 million individuals exported from the United States to foreign markets between 1989 and 1997 (Global Invasive Species Database 2019b), T. scripta is now considered one of IUCN’s 100 World’s Worst Invasive Species (Lowe et al. 2004). Since the first exports, individuals of T. scripta have been released by their owners worldwide, and has become invasive in about 64 countries (TTWG 2021; Global Invasive Species Database 2019b). To this day, T. scripta remains popular in the pet trade and individuals are continually being released. In Singapore, T. scripta is believed to have been introduced as early as the 1960s, with imports reaching up to 270,000 hatchlings per year (Ng & Lim 2010) and exceeding more than 1.2 million individuals in 2006 and 2007 (Ng 2009). A large number of the imports were also used to supplement turtle meat consumption of Pelodiscus sinensis (see Ng 2009). Trachemys scripta is now Singapore’s most common turtle species and is found in each and every waterbody throughout the entire country (Baker & Lim 2012), including mangroves (A. Figueroa pers. obs.). Population estimates at Eco-Lake in SBG is about 392 individuals and 562 individuals at LPR (Ng 2009). Undoubtedly T. scripta is established in Singapore, and no substantial observations on reproduction exist aside from some turtles seen nesting at various locations (Ng 2009), many captured female turtles with developing follicles and oviductal eggs (Ng 2009), 16 hatchlings reported from eggs that were collected at a Dakota housing estate (Leong & Lim 2014), and 11 hatchlings excavated from under 10 cm of soil at Seletar Park Connector on 14 July 2021 (Chong & Yeo, 2022). Nonetheless, as T. scripta is still sold in large numbers in Singapore, released individuals certainly contribute greatly to Singapore’s populations. Due to population sizes, distribution, and ecological similarities to native species, T. scripta is considered invasive in Singapore (Ng 2009). Occurrence. Ubiquitous. Common. Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable. Conservation priority. None, non-native species. IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2011]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.2504– ZRC.2.2506 (24-Jan-1987); Cluny Road: ZRC.2.2553 (24-Mar-1990), ZRC.2.2587 (04-Apr-1990). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Bedok Canal—Bedok Reservoir—Bishan Park—Bukit Batok Nature Park—Bukit Batok Town Park—Bukit Panjang Park—Bukit Timah Nature Reserve—Changi Beach—Cluny Road—East Coast Park—Gardens by the Bay—Hindhede Quarry—Hougang Avenue 10—Jurong Lake—Kallang River—Kandang Kerbau Hospital—Kent Ridge Park—Kranji Reservoir—Labrador Nature Reserve— Lower Peirce—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir—Lower Seletar Reservoir—MacRitchie Reservoir— Marina City Park —Marina East—Marina South—Mountbatten—Night Safari—Pandan Canal—Pandan Reservoir—Pulau Tekong—Punggol Park—Punggol Point Jetty—Seletar Park Connector— Sentosa—Siglap—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Singapore Polytechnic—Singapore Zoo—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Saint John’s Island—Sungei Kangkar—Sungei Loyang Canal— Sungei Punggol—Sungei Serangoon—Sungei Tengah—Sungei Tampines—Tampines Quarry—Upper Peirce Reservoir—Upper Peirce West Forest—Upper Seletar North Forest—Upper Seletar Reservoir— West Coast Park—Woodlands Town Garden., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 72-74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 c) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (4), 74 - 77.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1989) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 2 (1), 2 - 4.","Lim, K. (1989 e) Reptiles - Snakes & Lizards. The Pangolin, 2 (3), 38 - 39.","Lim, K. (1989 h) Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. The Pangolin, 2 (4), 63 - 66.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Lim, K. K. P. (1993 b) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 6 (3 - 4), 1 - 4.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subaraj, R. (1994) Recent records (1994) - herptiles. The Pangolin, 7 (1 - 4), 5.","Goh, B. P. L., Sodhi, N. S., Li, D., Ho, S. H. & Ng, P. K. L. (2002) A Guide to Urban Creatures. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Goh, T. Y. & O'Riordan, R. M. (2007) Are tortoises and freshwater turtles still traded illegally as pets in Singapore? Oryx, 41 (1), 97 - 100. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 003060530700155 X","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Lim, K. K. P., Leong, T. M. & Lim, F. L. K. (2011) The king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor) in Singapore (Reptilia: Squamata: Elapidae). Nature in Singapore, 4, 143 - 156.","Lim, K. K. P. (2013 d) Cuban sliders at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013, 119.","Lim, K. K. P. (2014 d) Malayan water monitor lizards at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 225 - 226.","Baker, N. (2015 a) Chinese striped-neck terrapin at Sungei Buloh. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2015, 25.","Baker, N. (2015 b) Cuban slider and common cooter at MacRitchie Reservoir. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2015, 56 - 57.","Lim, K. K. P., Chua, M. A. H. & Lim, N. T. - L. (2016) Freshwater fishes, terrestrial herpetofauna and mammals of Pulau Tekong, Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 9, 165 - 198.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","Anonymous (2014) Campus in a Garden: A Stroll through Nature and Time - in Commemoration of Singapore Polytechnic's 60 th Anniversary. Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore, 122 pp.","Global Invasive Species Database. (2019 b) Species profile: Lithobates catesbeianus. Available from: http: // www. iucngisd. org / gisd / speciesname / Lithobates + catesbeianus (accessed 14 January 2021)","Lowe, S., Browne, M., Boudjelas, S. & Poorter, M. de (2004) 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species. The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, 12 pp.","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp.","Leong, K. W. C. & Lim, K. K. P. (2014) Successful hatching of red-eared sliders in Singapore. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 315 - 316.","Chong, E. & Yeo, D. C. J. (2022) Biodiversity Record: First record of in-situ hatching of red-eared sliders in equatorial Southeast Asia. Nature in Singapore, 15, e 2022044."]}
Published: 2023
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24. Notochelys platynota

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Notochelys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Notochelys platynota, Taxonomy
Abstract: Notochelys platynota (Gray, 1834) — Native. Emys platynota Gray, 1834a: 54. Holotype: BMNH 1947.3.4.6 (possibly the specimen illustrated in Gray [1835: pl. 57], according to Iverson, 2022: 29), by original designation. Type locality: “[h]ab. in Indiâ Orientali” (= East Indies, i.e., Southeast Asia); later restricted to “ Sumatra ”, Indonesia by Gray (1835: pl. 57). Malayan Flatshell Terrapin (Figure 9F) Singapore records. Cyclemys platynota — Gray, 1855: 43.— Gray, 1870: 21.— Boulenger, 1889a: 130–131.— Flower, 1896: 858.— Hanitsch, 1898: 8.— Flower, 1899: 612 (Botanic Gardens; “Selitah” [= Seletar].—Ridley, 1899: 186, 2015.—Hanitsch, 1908: 39 (Impounding [MacRitchie] Reservoir [MR]).— Boulenger, 1912: 18–19.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14. Geoemyda grandis (non-Gray, 1860)— Hanitsch, 1898: 9.—Ridley, 1899: 205. Notochelys platynota — Gray, 1863b: 177.— &Gcedil;nther, 1864: xi, 17.— Gray, 1873: 20.—Theobald, 1876: 10, 227.— de Rooij, 1915: 304–305.—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Pasir Laba Military Exercise Area; Seletar Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 130, 151.— Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.P. Lim, 1994d: 14 (MacRitchie Golf Course [MR]; Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (Macritchie Golf Course [MR]).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 392 (Lornie Forest; Lower Peirce West Forest [LPF]; Nee Soon East [NSSF]; Nee Soon Range [NSSF]).— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 451.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 40.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 82.—van Dijk, 2000: 21.—Iskandar, 2000: 125.— Auliya, 2007: 62–63.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 175, 266.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 124, 159.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26, 65.— Das, 2010: 172.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 124, 159.—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 41.—TTWG, 2021: 241. “ Notochelys ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Historically, there appears to be some confusion regarding the occurrence of N. platynota in Singapore as also noticed by Flower (1899b) who noted “its occurrence seems rather strange”.After Wallace collected five specimens (likely from BTNR or DFNP) first reported by Gray (1855) and Boulenger (1889a), no additional specimens were reported until 1897 when one was caught at a lake in SBG and Hanitsch obtained three from Seletar (Flower 1899b). One of these specimens may be ZMA.RENA.12966 deposited at RMNH by Hanitsch. Hanitsch (1898) listed N. platynota in the Raffles Museum’s catalogue, but did not specify the number of specimens. The Seletar records led Ridley (1899) to believe that N. platynota was common there, and Hanitsch (1908) also appeared to consider N. platynota common as he casually stated that it is found at Seletar, MR, and “elsewhere”. Whether Wallace found N. platynota common remains unknown. Regardless, N. platynota is rare today. Eighty-two years elapsed before N. platynota was rediscovered and reported again (Table 2). Lim (1990a) reported a large adult at SR from 4 May 1990, one from Pasir Laba Military Exercise Area from early 1990, and two hatchlings in a stream from the same area. After this, N. platynota was reported a few more times, but the last published record was from Teo & Rajathurai (1997) who listed six records that included the four sightings from Lim (1994d) and Subaraj et al. (1995). The last reported record is of the individual illustrated in Baker & Lim (2012) which was photographed at NSSF on September 2006 (Fig. 9F) (N. Baker pers. comm.). Occurrence. Restricted to a few locations in CNR and WC. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Vulnerable [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1855.5.3.3–5 (no date), BMNH 1855.5.3.6–7 (no date), ZRC.2.3085 (1990), ZRC.2.171 (no date); Bukit Timah : ZRC.2.110 (1909), ZRC.2.114 (25-Apr-1910); Seletar Reservoir : ZRC.2.2601 (04-May-1990), ZRC.2.115 (no date). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): RMNH. Singapore localities. Bukit Timah (not specified)—Lornie Forest—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir— MacRitchie Reservoir—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Pasir Laba—Seletar Reservoir—Singapore Botanic Gardens*. Genus Siebenrockiella Lindholm, 1929 (1 species) Siebenrockiella Lindholm, 1929: 280–281 (type species: Emys crassicollis Gray, 1830, by original designation; gender feminine; replacement name for Bellia Gray, 1869: 197 [junior homonym of Bellia A. Milne-Edwards, 1848 [Crustacea], and Bellia Bate, 1851 [Crustacea]])., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 80-81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Gray, J. E. (1855) Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Trustees [of the British Museum], London, pp. 1 - 79, 42 pls.","Gray, J. E. (1870) Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). With Figures of the Skulls of 36 Genera. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, [i] + 120 pp.","Boulenger, G. A. (1889 a) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New edition. Taylor and Francis, London, x + 311 pp.","Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Boulenger, G. A. (1912) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore, Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia, Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 294 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10813","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1863 b) Observations on the box tortoises, with the descriptions of three new Asiatic species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1863 (2), 173 - 179.","Gnther, A. C. L. G. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, xxvii + 452 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5012","Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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25. Mauremys sinensis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Mauremys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Mauremys sinensis, Taxonomy
Abstract: Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1834) — Non-native; Introduced. Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle Singapore records. Ocadia sinensis —Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 53, 64, 143, 160, 203. Mauremys sinensis —T.H. Ng & K.K. Lim, 2010: 123 (Bedok Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker, 2015a: 25 (Bedok Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—Trageser, 2015: 148 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—Wijedasa, 2015: 180. Remarks. Mauremys sinensis is native to southern China, Hainan, Taiwan, and Vietnam (TTWG 2021). Between the 1900s and 2000s, M. sinensis was imported into Singapore as pets (Ng & Lim 2010). Since then, individuals of M. sinensis have been observed in numerous localities, including ECP, MR, SBG (Ng 2009; Wijedasa 2015), BR, MR, USR (Ng & Lim 2010), and SBWR (Baker 2015a; Trageser 2015). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Upper Seletar Reservoir: ZRC.2.6674 (12-Dec-2007). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 247-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Baker, N. (2015 a) Chinese striped-neck terrapin at Sungei Buloh. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2015, 25."]}
Published: 2023
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26. Cyclemys Bell 1834

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Cyclemys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Cyclemys Bell, 1834 (1 species) Cyclemys Bell, 1834: 17 (type species: Cyclemys orbiculata Bell, 1834 [= Emys dentata Gray, 1831], by monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 76, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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27. Pseudemys floridana

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Pseudemys, Reptilia, Testudines, Pseudemys floridana, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Emydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Pseudemys floridana (Le Conte, 1830) — Non-native; Introduced. Florida Cooter Singapore records. Pseudemys sp. —Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 53, 203. Pseudemys floridana floridana —N. Baker, 2015b: 56, 57 (MacRitchie Reservoir). Remarks. Pseudemys floridana is native to southeastern United States (TTWG 2021). One individual was observed on 25 February 2015 at MR (Baker 2015b). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Genus Trachemys Agassiz, 1857 (1 species) Trachemys decussata (Bell in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1830)— Non-native; Introduced. Cuban Slider Singapore records. Trachemys decussata —T.H.Ng& K.K.P.Lim, 2010:123(Jurong Lake;Lower Seletar Reservoir; MacRitchie Reservoir; Upper Peirce Reservoir; Upper Seletar Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 125.—K.K.P. Lim, 2013d: 119 (Botanic Gardens).—N. Baker, 2015b: 56, 57 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99 (Botanic Gardens).—Wijedasa, 2015: 180.—H.H. Tan, 2016b: 137 (Bishan Park). Remarks. Trachemys decussata is native to Cuba (TTWG 2021), but has been reported from SBG, JL, LS, MR, UPR, and USR (Ng & Lim 2010; Lim 2013; Baker 2015b). As T. decussata bears resemblance to T. scripta, it may be more common and widespread than perceived. However, it remains unknown whether T. decussata has established breeding populations in Singapore. Thus, for now we choose to keep T. decussata off Singapore’s herpetofauna checklist. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Upper Peirce Reservoir: ZRC.2.6497 (02-Aug-2007), ZRC.2.6554 (20-Jun-2007). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Family Geoemydidae Theobald, 1868 (4 species) Genus Batagur Gray, 1856 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 246-247, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Baker, N. (2015 b) Cuban slider and common cooter at MacRitchie Reservoir. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2015, 56 - 57.","Lim, K. K. P. (2013 d) Cuban sliders at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013, 119."]}
Published: 2023
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28. Macrochelys temminckii Troost 1835

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Macrochelys, Testudines, Chelydridae, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Macrochelys temminckii, Taxonomy
Abstract: Macrochelys temminckii Troost, 1835 — Non-native; Introduced. Alligator Snapping Turtle Singapore records. Macrochelys temminckii —T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 120 (Kranji Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35. Remarks. On 28 June 2008, a large specimen of M. temminckii was caught by a fisherman at Kranji Reservoir (Ng & Lim 2010), and during the 1990s, hatchlings were sold in pet shops across Singapore (Ng & Lim 2010). Macrochelys temminckii is native to central and southern United States (TTWG 2021). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 245-246, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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29. Manouria emys

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudinidae, Manouria, Testudines, Animalia, Manouria emys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Manouria emys (Schlegel & M̧ller, 1844)— Non-native; Introduced. Asian Giant Tortoise Singapore records. Manouria fusca — Gray, 1854: 68. Geochelone (Testudo) emys —K. Lim & F. Lim, 1989: 4 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).—L.M. Chou, 1995: 146. Manouria emys —P.K.L. Ng et al., 1993: 20.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35. Manouria emys phayrei —Pai & H.T.W. Tan, 2014: 188 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest). Manouria emys emys —Stanford et al., 2015: 86.1.—TTWG, 2021: 252. Remarks. Manouria emys occupies a wide, native distribution ranging from Bangladesh and India, east through Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo (TTWG 2021). Given this distribution, it has been suspected that M. emys occurred naturally in Singapore, and is even listed as extirpated (Stanford et al. 2015; TTWG 2021). Gray (1854) mistakenly listed Singapore as the locality of a specimen collected in Penang (Gray 1855). As no historical specimens exist for M. emys from Singapore, we exclude it from Singapore’s herpetofauna checklist. Nonetheless, released individuals have been sighted at BTNR on 5 January 1989 (Lim 1989), NSSF in June 2002 (K.W. Li pers. comm.), 9 June 2011 (Y. Cai pers. comm.), and on 29 January 2014 (Pai & Tan 2014), and UP on 12 May 2014 (W. Ng pers. comm.). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Family Trionychidae Gray, 1825 (1 species) Genus Lissemys Smith, 1931 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 250, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1854) Description of a new genus and some new species of tortoises. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1852 (246), 133 - 135.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1989) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 2 (1), 2 - 4.","Chou, L. M. (1995) Amphibians and reptiles. In: Chin, S. C., Corlett, R. T., Wee, Y. C. & Geh, S. Y. (Eds.), Rain Forest in the City: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Singapore. Gardens' Bulletin, Singapore, Supplement 3, pp. 145 - 150.","Gray, J. E. (1855) Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Trustees [of the British Museum], London, pp. 1 - 79, 42 pls."]}
Published: 2023
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30. Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E.Y., and Lim, Kelvin K.P.
Subjects: Pipidae, Ichthyophiidae, Reptilia, Ranidae, Xenopeltidae, Megophryidae, Pythonidae, Agamidae, Emydidae, Lamprophiidae, Amphibia, Chelidae, Homalopsidae, Viperidae, Elapidae, Eublepharidae, Chordata, Gekkonidae, Rhacophoridae, Chelydridae, Colubridae, Kinosternidae, Biodiversity, Pelodryadidae, Platysternidae, Chamaeleonidae, Geoemydidae, Typhlopidae, Dermochelyidae, Testudinidae, Anura, Lacertidae, Varanidae, Eleutherodactylidae, Crocodylia, Trionychidae, Cylindrophiidae, Squamata, Carettochelyidae, Animalia, Gymnophiona, Natricidae, Taxonomy, Microhylidae, Podocnemididae, Dicroglossidae, Pareatidae, Bufonidae, Cheloniidae, Iguanidae, Crocodylidae, Testudines, Acrochordidae, Dactyloidae, Scincidae
Abstract: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E.Y., Lim, Kelvin K.P. (2023): Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution. Zootaxa 5287 (1): 1-378, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1
Published: 2023

31. Cuora amboinensis Riche

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Cuora amboinensis, Reptilia, Testudines, Cuora, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Cuora amboinensis Riche in Daudin, 1801— Native. Testudo amboinensis Riche in Daudin, 1801b: 309–313.Type material: None designated; holotype deposited in MNHN, according to Bourret (1941: 149), but Bour (in Rummler & Fritz 1991: 36) reported it was lost at sea en route to MNHN before Daudin ever saw it. Type locality: “à Amboine” (= Kota Ambon), Moluccas, Indonesia. Malayan Box Terrapin (Figure 9B) Singapore records. Cistudo Amboinensis — Gray, 1844: 30–31.— Gray, 1855: 42. Cistudo amboinensis — Cantor, 1847a: 611.— Cantor, 1847c: 1067. Cuora amboinensis — &Gcedil;nther, 1864: 12–13.— Gray, 1873: 21.—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 25.—F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18.—K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (Mandai Road).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988a: 28 (MacRitchie).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988c: 77 (Bukit Kalang Service Reservoir [SRF]).—K. Lim, 1989b: 21 (Upper Peirce Reservoir).—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.K.P Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1991b: 5 (Sentosa).—K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1991c: 3 (Lower Peirce Reservoir).—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 34.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 129, 151.— K.K. P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (East Coast Park; Jalan Bahar; Lower Peirce Forest; MacRitchie Reservoir; Mandai Road; Serangoon Sludge Works [LH]; Sime Road Forest).—P.K.L. Ng, 1992a: 142.—P.K.L. Ng, 1992b: 142.—Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim, 1993b: 3 (Neo Tiew Lane [LKC]).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.K.P. Lim & Subaraj, 1994: 5 (Venus Drive [WNP]).—R. Subaraj, 1994: 14 (Lornie Track; MacRitchie Golf Trail [MNF]; MacRitchie Reservoir Park; Seletar North Forest [USNF]; Thomson Ridge Trail [TRF]).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (Kent Ridge Park; MacRitchie Reservoir; Mandai Track 15).— K. Lim, 1995: 19 (MacRitchie Nature Trail [TRF]; Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Serapong Golf Course [Sentosa]).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 387, 392.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 443.— Chan-ard et al., 1999: 39.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 63.—van Dijk, 2000: 20.—Touch et al., 2000: 56.— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—T.Y. Goh & O’Riordan, 2007: 98.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 166.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 122, 159 (Botanic Gardens; Pulau Ubin).—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 19, 21, 25, 53, 54, 64, 115, 143, 160, 165, 167, 193, 203.—E.K. Chua, 2010: 102 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Das, 2010: 168.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 122 (Pulau Tekong).—M.A.H. Chua, 2011: 281 (Semakau Landfill [PS]).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 479.—H.T.W. & K.K.P. Lim, 2011: 196.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 122, 159.— M.F.C. Ng, 2012: 68, 146.— Duong et al., 2014: 739.—R. Subaraj, 2015: 13, 38 (Night Safari; Stephen Lee Woods [= RPN]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 3, 4, 7 (Night Safari; Stephen Lee Woods [= RPN]; Upper Seletar Peninsula [= USNF]).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99 (Botanic Gardens).—Wijedasa, 2015: 180.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 176 (Pulau Tekong).—Vogrinc & McCleary, 2016: 121–122 (Pulau Ubin).— Aini et al., 2019: 399.—H.C. Ho et al., 2019: 124 (Clementi Forest).—Riyanto & Mumpuni, 2019: 18.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2019: 135 (Kent Ridge Park; National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus).— Leo et al., 2020: 257.— Andersen et al., 2021: 3. Cyclemys amboinensis — Boulenger, 1889a: 133–134.— Flower, 1896: 859.— Hanitsch, 1898: 8.— Flower, 1899: 614.—Ridley, 1899: 186, 205 (“ground on which is now the Tanglin Market”).—Hanitsch, 1908: 39.— Boulenger, 1912: 21–22.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14.— de Rooij, 1915: 302–304. Cuora amboinensis kamaroma — Auliya, 2007: 44–45.—Ernest et al., 2016: 144–156.—TTWG, 2021: 208. Remarks. Singapore’s population of C. amboinensis consists of wild and released individuals (Teo & Rajathurai 1997). This species is a prime example of a traded species perennially released into the wild in observance of Vesak Day as it was commonly sold in pet shops during the 1990s (Ng & Lim 2010) and placed back on the list of legal pets (Ng 2009). Gray (1844) first reported C. amboinensis for Singapore from a stuffed specimen in the NHMUK collections. Until Hanitsch (1898) listed it in the Raffles Museum’s catalogue, C. amboinensis was known only from this one specimen. Ridley (1899) noted that C. amboinensis was previously considered common in Singapore, but that its numbers were declining. Yet, Hanitsch (1908) described it as common in swamps and paddy fields, a supposition echoed decades later by Johnson (1964). Besides the previous accounts depicting how common C. amboinensis was, the first reported field observation of it was made 24 years after Johnson’s (1964) account (Table 2), on 13 February 1988 when a released individual, signified by red paint on its shell, was spotted at Mandai Road (Lim 1988a). The first field observation of a wild individual was of one seen behind a house around MacRitchie in April 1988 (Lim & Lim 1988a). Certainly, research is needed to verify the extent of wild and released individuals of C. amboinensis. Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Common. Singapore conservation status. Near-Threatened. Conservation priority. Moderate. Population is a mixture of native and released individuals. IUCN conservation status. Endangered [2020]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): BMNH 1902.3.26.3–5 (no date), ZRC.2.128 (no date); Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.2.2585 (30-Mar-1990); Semakau Landfill [PS] : ZRC.2.7025 (19-Feb-2011). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): CAS, SMNS. Singapore localities. Clementi Forest—East Coast Park—Jalan Bahar—Kent Ridge Park—Lim Chu Kang—Lornie Forest—Lorong Halus—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir—MacRitchie—MacRitchie North Forest—MacRitchie Reservoir Park—Mandai Road—Mandai Track 15—National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Night Safari—Pulau Semakau—Pulau Tekong—Pulau Ubin—Rainforest Park North—Sentosa—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Tanglin—Thomson Ridge Forest—Upper Peirce Reservoir—Upper Seletar North Forest—Windsor Nature Park., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 75-76, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Bourret, R. (1941) Les Tortues de l'Indochine. Notes Institut Oceanographique de l'Indochine, 38, 1 - 235.","Gray, J. E. (1844) Catalogue of Tortoises, Crocodilians, and Amphisbaenians in the Collection of the British Museum. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, vii + 80 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1855) Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Trustees [of the British Museum], London, pp. 1 - 79, 42 pls.","Cantor, T. E. (1847 a) Catalogue of reptiles inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and islands, collected or observed by Theodore Cantor, Esq., M. D. Bengal Medical Service. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 16 (Part 2, No. 180), 607 - 656, pl. 20. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5057","Cantor, T. E. (1847 c) Catalogue of reptiles inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and islands, collected or observed by Theodore Cantor, Esq., M. D. Bengal Medical Service. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 16 (Part 2, No. 183), 1026 - 1078. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5057","Gnther, A. C. L. G. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, xxvii + 452 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5012","Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, F. L. K. (1984) Reptile and amphibian encounters. In: Wee, Y. - C. (Ed.), Nature in an Urban Singapore. Proceedings of the Seminar on Nature in an Urban Singapore. Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 17 - 19.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 c) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (4), 74 - 77.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Lim, K. K. P. (1993 b) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 6 (3 - 4), 1 - 4.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subaraj, R. (1994) Recent records (1994) - herptiles. The Pangolin, 7 (1 - 4), 5.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","Goh, T. Y. & O'Riordan, R. M. (2007) Are tortoises and freshwater turtles still traded illegally as pets in Singapore? Oryx, 41 (1), 97 - 100. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 003060530700155 X","Chua, E. K. (2010) Wetlands in a City: The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Simply Green, Singapore, 176 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Chua, M. A. (2011) The herpetofauna and mammals of Semakau Landfill: A Project Semakau checklist. Nature in Singapore, 4, 277 - 287.","Lim, K. K. P., Leong, T. M. & Lim, F. L. K. (2011) The king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor) in Singapore (Reptilia: Squamata: Elapidae). Nature in Singapore, 4, 143 - 156.","Duong, L. D., Ngo, C. D. & Nguyen, T. Q. (2014) New records of turtles from Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Herpetology Notes, 7, 737 - 744.","Lim, K. K. P., Chua, M. A. H. & Lim, N. T. - L. (2016) Freshwater fishes, terrestrial herpetofauna and mammals of Pulau Tekong, Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 9, 165 - 198.","Aini, Y., Kusrini, M. D. & Prasetyo, L. B. (2019) Pemodelan spasial kesesuaian habitat Kura Kura Ambon (Cuora amboinensis) di Taman Nasional Rawa Aopa Watumohai. In: Prosiding Seminar Nasional Konservasi dan Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan dan Satwa Liar (' Riset Sebagai Fondasi Konservasi dan Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan dan Satwa Liar'), Bogor, 27 November (2018). Pusat Penelitian Biologi, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, s. n., pp. 398 - 406.","Leo, S., Suherman, M., Permatasari, A., Suganda, D. & Zulamri, W. N. (2020) Herpetofauna diversity in Zamrud National Park, Indonesia: baseline checklist for a Sumatra peat swamp forest ecosystem. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 14 (2), 250 - 263.","Andersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., Silva, R. da, Pfau, B. & Conde, D. A. (2021) Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in Brief, 34, 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. dib. 2020.106708","Boulenger, G. A. (1889 a) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New edition. Taylor and Francis, London, x + 311 pp.","Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Boulenger, G. A. (1912) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore, Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia, Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 294 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10813","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","de Rooij, N. (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosaura. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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32. Actinemys marmorata

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Actinemys, Actinemys marmorata, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Emydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Actinemys marmorata (Baird & Girard, 1852) — Non-native; Introduced. Northern Pacific Pond Turtle Singapore records. No published records. Remarks. Specimen USNM 222384 is labelled as collected in Singapore, but it lacks any other pertinent information. If the location is indeed correct, the specimen was definitely imported since A. marmorata is native to the western United States (TTWG 2021). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens. Additional Singapore museum specimens. USNM. Genus Pseudemys Gray, 1856 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 246, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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33. Lissemys punctata

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Trionychidae, Reptilia, Lissemys, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Lissemys punctata, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre, 1789) — Non-native; Introduced. Indian Flapshell Turtle Singapore records. Lissemys punctata —K. Lim, 1990a: 12 (Seletar Reservoir).—Yong, 1990: 29 (Seletar Reservoir).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1993: 20, 21.—Iskandar, 2000: 86 (refers to Amyda cartilaginea).—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 126 (Kranji Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35. Remarks. Lissemys punctata was initially reported from Singapore based on the carcass of a shell found at USR on 4 May 1990 (Yong 1990). However, the remains were later reidentified as A. cartilaginea by I. Das (Ng & Lim 2010). Nonetheless, one individual of L. punctata was caught by fishermen on 9 August 2001 in an abandoned pond next to KR (Ng & Lim 2010). Lissemys punctata is native to India (TTWG 2021). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Kranji Reservoir: ZRC.2.6908 (09-Aug-2001). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 250, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12."]}
Published: 2023
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34. Chelus fimbriata

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Chelidae, Chelus fimbriata, Reptilia, Testudines, Chelus, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Chelus fimbriata (Schneider, 1783) — Non-native; Introduced. Mata Mata Singapore records. Chelus fimbriatus —T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35. Remarks. Chelus fimbriata is native to South America (TTWG 2021). In October 2004, the carcass of a shell was found on the shore of MR (Ng & Lim 2010). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. MacRitchie North Forest: ZRC.2.6103 (Oct-2004). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Family Chelydridae Gray, 1831 (2 species) Genus Chelydra Schweigger, 1812 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 245, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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35. Notochelys Gray 1863

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Notochelys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Notochelys Gray, 1863 (1 species) Notochelys Gray, 1863: 177 (type species: Emys platynota Gray, 1834, by monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 80, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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36. Mauremys reevesii

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Mauremys reevesii, Animalia, Mauremys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Mauremys reevesii (Gray, 1831) — Non-native; Introduced. Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle Singapore records. Mauremys reevesii —T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 125. Remarks. Native to China and North and South Korea (TTWG 2021), four specimens of M. reevesii introduced from China were collected from Bukit Mandai on 12 May 1914 (ZRC.2.207 & ZRC.2.208) and 5 December 1914 (CAS 8616 & CAS 8617). Initially, the specimens at LKCNHM were misidentified as Malayemys subtrijuga (K.K.P. Lim unpub. data). Ng & Lim (2010) mentioned that individuals of M. reevesii are occasionally released for Vesak Day. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Bukit Mandai: ZRC.2.207– ZRC.2.208 (12-May-1914). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Bukit Mandai: CAS., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 247, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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37. Caretta caretta

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Caretta caretta, Reptilia, Cheloniidae, Testudines, Animalia, Caretta, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) — Visitor. Testudo Caretta Linnaeus, 1758: 197–198. Holotype: None designated; type material apparently lost, according to Wallin (1985: 126); Testudo caretta Linnaeus, 1758 was based on literature that diagnose Caretta caretta and Eretmochelys imbricata (Wallin 1985: 121). Type locality: “[h]abitat ad insulas Americanas” (= American Islands); later restricted to “Mari Mediterraneo, Atlantico” (= Mediterranean and Atlantic Seas) by Schoepff (1793: 70), to “ Bermuda Islands” by Smith & Taylor (1950a: 315, 1950b: 16), and to “ Bimini, British Bahamas ” by Schmidt (1953: 107). Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Figures 7H & 8A) Singapore records. Thalassochelys caretta — Flower, 1896: 860.— Hanitsch, 1898: 9.— Flower, 1899: 618.—Ridley, 1899: 188, 205 (Singapore Harbour).— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14. Caretta caretta — Gremli, 1988: 62.—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 151.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 22.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2007: 119.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2010: 158.—L.M. Chou, 2011: 77.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 452. “Loggerhead turtles”—Van Miriah, 2002: Local. Remarks. Caretta caretta is considered a visitor in Singapore (Ng & Lim 2010). Yet, there are no confirmed records of this species in Singapore. Flower (1896) first reported C. caretta from Singapore from specimen ZRC.2.180 (Fig. 7H) that he says was collected in January 1896 “near Singapore ”. Ridley (1899) expressed that C. caretta was often seen sticking its head out of water just outside Singapore Harbour, but chances are it may have been confused with Chelonia mydas, which is seen more frequently around Singapore (see C. mydas account below). Beyond these two accounts, there are no other records for C. caretta from Singapore aside from some that were confiscated by AVA from illegal traders and were released by Underwater World Singapore at Siloso Beach on 6 June 2002, along with C. mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Lepidochelys olivacea (Van Miriah 2002). The TTWG (2021) does not include Singapore on its list of nesting or foraging habitats for C. caretta, but does list Malaysia under the vagrant category (i.e., visitor). Moll (1976) included C. caretta in Peninsular Malaysia’s chelonian checklist based on reports in the literature, but does not provide any references. At best, it appears that C. caretta is a rare visitor around Sundaland. As we cannot discredit Flower’s (1896) record, we maintain C. caretta as a visitor. Occurrence. Visitor. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated. Conservation priority. Lowest. IUCN conservation status. Vulnerable [2017]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.180 (1896). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Singapore Harbour*. Genus Chelonia Brongniart, 1800 (1 species) Chelonia Brongniart 1800: 89 (type species: Testudo mydas Linnaeus, 1758, by subsequent designation by Bell, 1828: 516; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 66-67, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Gremli, M. (1988) Reptile visitors to local coastal waters. The Pangolin, 1 (3), 60 - 62.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Chou, L. M. (2011) Marine Ecosystems. In: Ng, P. K. L., Corlett, R. T. & Tan, H. T. W. (Eds.), Singapore Biodiversity: An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development. Editions Didier Millet and Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore, pp. 76 - 87."]}
Published: 2023
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38. Cuora Gray 1856

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Cuora, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Cuora Gray, 1856 (1 species) Cuora Gray, 1856a: 198 (type species: Testudo amboinensis Riche in Daudin, 1801, by subsequent designation by Stejneger, 1907: 503; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 75, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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39. Dermochelyidae Fitzinger 1843

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy, Dermochelyidae
Abstract: Family Dermochelyidae Fitzinger, 1843 (1 species) Dermatochelydae Fitzinger 1843: 30 (type genus Dermochelys Blainville, 1816)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 71, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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40. Heosemys Stejneger 1902

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Heosemys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Heosemys Stejneger, 1902 (2 species) Heosemys Stejneger, 1902b: 238 (type species: Emys spinosa Gray, 1830 [in 1830–1832], by original designation; gender masculine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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41. Eretmochelys imbricata

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Cheloniidae, Testudines, Eretmochelys imbricata, Animalia, Eretmochelys, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766) — Native. Testudo imbricata Linnaeus, 1766: 350. Type material: None designated; type material apparently lost, according to Wallin (1985: 128); UUZM 130 designated as holotype by Thunberg (1828), reidentified as C. mydas by Wallin (1985: 126). Type locality: “[h]abitat in Mari Americano, Asiatico” (= America and Asiatic seas); later restricted to “ Bermuda Islands” by Smith & Taylor (1950a: 315, 1950b: 17), and to “ Belize, British Honduras” by Schmidt (1953: 106). Hawksbill Turtle (Figure 8C; Pulau Satumu) Singapore records. Chelone imbricata — Flower, 1896: 860.— Hanitsch, 1898: 9.— Flower, 1899: 618.—Ridley, 1899: 205.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14. Eretmochelys imbricata —Sharma, 1973: 24.—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Sentosa).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 134, 151.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.K.P. Lim, 1994b: 226, 331.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1995: 126.—Sharma, 1998: 56.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2007: 119 (East Coast [= ECP]; Jurong Island).—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 175, 266 (Singapore Straits).—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 25, 193.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 199.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2010: 158 (East Coast [= ECP]; Jurong Island).—L.M. Chou, 2011: 77–78.—M.A.H. Chua, 2011: 281 (Semakau Landfill [PS]).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 452.—M.F.C. Ng, 2012: 146.—W. Wong, 2017: 86.—L.M. Chou et al., 2020: 75.—J.S.K. Cham et al., 2021: 1 (Sisters Islands Marine Park).—TTWG, 2021: 95. Eretomochelys imbricata — Gremli, 1988: 62. Eretmochelys squamata —H.M. Smith & Taylor, 1950a: 315. Erectmochelys [sic] imbricata — Diong et al., 2001: 184 (Labrador Beach Park [= LNP]). “Hawksbill turtles”—K. Lee, 2003: 39 (Pulau Sudong).—Van Miriah, 2002: Local.—B. Lay, 2017b (East Coast Park).—Zheng, 2017a (East Coast Park).—Zheng, 2017b (East Coast Park).—Zheng, 2017c (Southern Islands).—Zheng, 2020c (East Coast Park).—Zheng, 2020d (East Coast Park).—Zheng, 2020e (“between Kusu and Lazarus islands”).—Zheng, 2020g (Changi Coast Walk; East Coast Park; Sentosa).—A. Tan, 2021b (Pulau Hantu).—A. Tan, 2021d (East Coast Park).—A. Tan, 2021g (Sisters’ Island Marine Park).—F. Tan, 2021b (Changi).—Thet, 2021 (Sentosa’s Siloso Beach).—G. Pek, 2022 (Sentosa Cove).—A. Qing, 2022 (“Changi Bay reclamation site”).—Z. Zheng, 2022b (East Coast Park). Remarks. Raffles (1822) described seeing numerous E. imbricata shells for sale in Singapore, of which at least some were most likely locally-sourced, but this was not stated. After C. porosus and Heosemys spinosa, this would be the third earliest account of any herpetofauna from Singapore, along with the description of a snake (that matches Ptyas fusca) in the same publication (Raffles 1821). Subsequently, MCZ R-1416 (syntype of E. squamata [= imbricata]) was collected in Singapore in 1858 by Putnam, and Flower (1896) reported a live specimen shown to him by Hanitsch that was collected “near Singapore early in 1896”. After Flower (1896), no other observation of E. imbricata from Singapore was published until 87 years later when Sharma (1973) noted seeing live ones brought into Singapore (Table 2). The next published observation was of a dead individual with a crushed carapace found on a beach at Sentosa on 3 November 1990 (Lim 1990a). In the first edition of Singapore’s Red Data Book, Lim (1994b) mentioned E. imbricata was occasionally seen around Singapore, but they were uncertain whether it was a resident species, suggesting that sightings were infrequent and nesting was non-existent. TTWG (2021) also did not identify Singapore as being part of E. imbricata nesting ground, but they do indicate Singapore as part of its foraging range. The first documentation of E. imbricata nesting in Singapore is of one observed nesting at LNP on 20 July 1999 (Diong et al. 2001). At least by 2007, nesting on Jurong Island and East Coast Park were known (Tan et al. 2007), and recognised in the updated version of the Red Data Book (Lim et al. 2008). Just recently on 26 May 2021, the first observation of E. imbricata mating in Singapore was made at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park (Cham et al. 2021). The only other published observations of E. imbricata is of Lee (2003) referring to individuals being seen off the western side of Pulau Sudong, and one seen off Pulau Semakau in 2007 (Chua 2011). Eretmochelys imbricata was the first species of herpetofauna, and one of six vertebrates, placed on NParks species recovery programme (NParks 2016a; NParks 2016b). In an effort to protect E. imbricata and keep it nesting in Singapore, NParks initiated a turtle management programme in 2016 which through the help of trained volunteers survey suitable areas for signs of turtles and patrol beaches for turtle tracks, nesting females, nests, and hatchlings (NParks 2018). Prior to this initiative, from 2005 to 2016, only 66 turtle sightings were documented compared to 80 nesting-specific encounters from nine separate locations between 2017 and 2018. On 29 September 2018, NParks strengthened its conservation efforts of E. imbricata by opening a turtle hatchery at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park (NParks 2018). Within its first year, 150 turtles were hatched and released at the hatchery (CNA 2019). Additional published reproductive evidence include: 32 hatchlings at ECP on 16 August 2017 (Zheng 2017a); a nesting female laying eggs at ECP on 24 August 2017 (Zheng 2017b), of which approximately 100 successfully hatched on 12 November 2017 (Lay 2017b); 46 eggs that hatched on 2 November 2017 on one of the Southern Islands, after the nest was first discovered on 8 September 2017 when a Varanus salvator was seen feeding on the eggs (Zheng 2017c); a nesting female on 23 May 2020 at ECP (the first observation of turtles mating in Singapore) on 26 May 2021 (Zheng 2021g); a female seen on the beach at ECP on 2 July 2020 that was reported to not have nested (Zheng 2020d); 100 hatchlings seen at ECP on 18 June 2021 (A. Tan 2021d), 85 hatchlings that hatched at Siloso Beach on 31 October 2021 from a nest that was discovered on 3 September 2021 (Thet 2021), 100 hatchlings that were rescued at Changi on 16 December 2021 (F. Tan 2021b), and; nesting turtles that were seen at a reclamation site along Changi Bay (Qing 2022). In an effort to learn more about nesting and the movement of adult females, nesting females are being tagged for identification with metal flipper tags (Zheng 2020d) and two females were fitted with satellite radiotransmitters after nesting on a beach at ECP (Zheng 2020d). Preliminary data showed that the two turtles spent some time traveling along the southern coast of Singapore (between Sentosa and Changi) before heading to Pulau Batam, Indonesia (Zheng 2020g). Eretmochelys imbricata is the only marine turtle documented to nest in Singapore. Occurrence. Restricted to southern coastline, Singapore Strait, and Southern Islands. Uncommon. Nesting numbers are increasing. Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2008]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.5425– ZRC.2.5429, ZRC.2.142 (no date); East Coast Park : ZRC.2.3529– ZRC.2.3532 (05-Oct-1996), ZRC.2.4644 (1996), ZRC.2.6849– ZRC. 2.6852 (15-Sep-2009); Labrador Beach [LNR] : ZRC.2.4761– ZRC.2.4770(20-Jul-1999); Singapore Straits : ZRC. 2.6198 (29-Jun-2006); Sisters’ Islands [SIMP] : ZRC.2.7287 (12-Sep-2017). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): MCZ R-1416 [syntype of E. squamata], NMW, RMNH, USNM. Singapore localities. Changi—Changi Bay—East Coast Park—Kusu Island—Labrador Nature Reserve—Lazarus Island—Pulau Hantu—Pulau Jurong—Pulau Satumu—Pulau Semakau—Pulau Sudong—Sentosa— Singapore Straits—Sisters’ Islands Marine Park—Southern Islands (not specified). Genus Lepidochelys Fitzinger, 1843 (1 species) Thalassochelys (Lepidochelys) Fitzinger 1843: 30 (type species: Chelonia olivacea Eschscholtz, 1829, by original designation; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 69-70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Flower, S. S. (1896) Notes on a collection of reptiles and batrachians made in the Malay Peninsula in 1895 - 96; with a list of the species recorded from that region. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896 (4), 856 - 914, pls. 44 - 46.","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim, K. K. P. (1994 b) Reptiles. In: Ng, P. K. L. & Wee, Y. C. (Eds.), The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore. Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 213 - 227.","Chou, L. M. (2011) Marine Ecosystems. In: Ng, P. K. L., Corlett, R. T. & Tan, H. T. W. (Eds.), Singapore Biodiversity: An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development. Editions Didier Millet and Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore, pp. 76 - 87.","Chua, M. A. (2011) The herpetofauna and mammals of Semakau Landfill: A Project Semakau checklist. Nature in Singapore, 4, 277 - 287.","Chou, L. M., Ng, L., Toh, K. B., Cheo, P. R., Ng, J. Y. & Tun, K. (2020) Hidden Havens: Exploring Marine Life in Singapore's Marinas. NParks' Publication, Singapore, 103 pp.","Cham, J. S. K., Ong, E. J. K. & Jaafar, Z. (2021) Biodiversity Record: First record of at-sea copulation of hawksbill turtles in Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 14 (e 2021053), 1.","Gremli, M. (1988) Reptile visitors to local coastal waters. The Pangolin, 1 (3), 60 - 62.","Diong, C. H., Lim, S. L. & Tan, W. H. (2001) Natural history notes: Erectmochelys imbricata. Herpetological Review, 32 (3), 184 - 185.","Lee, K. (2003) Singapore Waters: Unveiling our Seas. Marine Conservation Group, Nature Society, Singapore, 145 pp.","Lay, B. (2017 b) Around 100 hawksbill turtle eggs hatch at East Coast Park. Mothership, 13 November 2017. Available from: https: // mothership. sg / 2017 / 11 / turtle-eggs-hatch-east-coast-park- 2017 / (accessed 14 January 2021)","CNA (2019) 150 hatchlings born last year at Singapore's only turtle hatchery: NParks. Available from: https: // www. channelnewsasia. com / news / singapore / singapore-turtle-hatchery-baby-hatchlings- 11829126 (accessed 14 January 2021)"]}
Published: 2023
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42. Trachemys Agassiz 1857

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Trachemys, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Emydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Genus Trachemys Agassiz, 1857 (1 species) Trachemys Agassiz, 1857a: 252 (type species: Emys troostii Holbrook, 1836, by subsequent designation by Lindholm, 1929: 280; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 72, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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43. Siebenrockiella crassicollis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Siebenrockiella, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, Chordata, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Siebenrockiella crassicollis (Gray, 1831) — Non-native; Established. Emys Crassicollis Gray, 1830: 8. Syntypes (4): OUM 8479–81 and BMNH 1947.3.5.36, according to Iverson (2000: 32); BMNH 1947.3.5.36 erroneously listed as holotype by King & Burke (1989: 50) and Iverson (1992: 166) based on BMNH catalogue. Type locality: “ Sumatra ”, Indonesia. Black Marsh Terrapin (Figure 9G) Singapore records. Siebenrockiella crassicollis —D.S. Johnson, 1964: 48.—K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988c: 77 (Botanic Gardens).—K. Lim, 1989b: 21 (Upper Peirce Reservoir).—K. Lim, 1989h: 65 (Sime Road Forest).—K. Lim, 1990a: 11 (Seletar Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 68.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 128, 151.— K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (Lower Peirce Forest; Mandai Road; Old Upper Thomson Road; Sime Road Forest).—Wee, 1992: 74 (Lower Peirce Reservoir Park).—K.K.P. Lim, 1993b: 3 (Choa Chu Kang Road; Old Upper Thomson Road).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1993: 20.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—R. Subaraj, 1994: 12 (Lornie Track [LF]; MacRitchie Reservoir Northwest [SRF]; MacRitchie Reservoir Park; Rifle Range Pipeline; Seletar Reservoir; Sime Road Forest; Thomson Ridge Trail [TRF]; Ulu Sembawang Forest).—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (MacRitchie Reservoir; Mandai Track 15).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 393.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 454.— Chan-ard et al., 1999: 40.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 92.—van Dijk, 2000: 22.—Iskandar, 2000: 130.—Touch et al., 2000: 57.—B.P.L. Goh et al., 2002: 144.— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Auliya, 2007: 66–67.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 124, 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 21, 26, 53, 54, 115, 203.— Das, 2010: 173.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 123.— D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 124, 165.—M.A.H. Chua, 2014e: 197. (Mandai Lake Road).—Thomas & M.A.H. Chua, 2014: 30, 31 (Pulau Ubin).—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 42.—Riyanto & Mumpuni, 2019: 18.—van den Burg et al., 2020: 2.—TTWG, 2021: 206. “ Siebenrockiella ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Remarks. Regarded as non-native to Singapore (Baker & Lim 2012), Ng & Lim (2010) stated that the possibility exists that S. crassicollis may be native given its distribution from southern Myanmar, east to Vietnam, and south to Peninsular Malaysia, eastern Sumatra, western Borneo, and Java (TTWG 2021). Although TTWG (2021) lists S. crassicollis as native to Singapore and occurring throughout Peninsular Malaysia, its distribution in the latter is restricted to the northern states (Ng & Lim 2010). Evidence against S. crassicollis nativeness to Singapore includes its wide-ranging distribution within Singapore (Baker & Lim 2012; refer to localities below), no individuals being reported prior to Johnson (1964), and that it is commonly released in reverence of Vesak Day (Teo & Rajathurai 1997), indicative by individuals being found with red paint (Lim 1990a). As mentioned, S. crassicollis was first reported in Singapore by Johnson (1964), who said “[it] can be found in the catchment area, and sometimes elsewhere, but it is not very common”. As Johnson (1964) did not report on any specimens or direct field records, the first published observation of S. crassicollis came 24 years later (Table 2) of one seen moving in a pond at MR on 4 April 1988 (Lim 1988a). In addition to the published locality records listed above, S. crassicollis was also seen at JLG on 9 January 2017 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) and KM on 30 July 2014 (T.H. Ng pers. comm.). Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon. Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable. Conservation priority. None, non-native species. IUCN conservation status. Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.2530 (11-Mar-1990); Mandai Road : ZRC.2.7108– ZRC.2.7110 (08-Sep-2015); Seletar Reservoir : ZRC.2.2602 (04-May-1990); Sentosa Island : ZRC.2.6327– ZRC.2.6330 (May-1978). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Choa Chu Kang Road—Jurong Lake Gardens—Kranji Marshes—Lornie Forest—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir Park—MacRitchie Reservoir Park—Mandai Road—Mandai Lake Road—Mandai Track 15—Old Upper Thomson Road—Pulau Ubin—Rifle Range Pipeline—Seletar Reservoir—Sentosa—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve— Thomson Ridge Forest—Ulu Sembawang Forest—Upper Peirce Reservoir. Family Trionychidae Gray, 1825 (4 species) Trionicidae Gray, 1825: 212 (type genus Trionyx Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1809). Genus Amyda Schweigger in Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 (1 species) Amyda Schweigger in Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1809: 365 (type species: Amyda javanica Schweigger in Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1809 [= subjective synonym of Testudo cartilaginea Boddaert 1770], by original monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 81-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["King, F. W. & Burke, R. L. (1989) Crocodilian, Tuatara, and Turtle Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Association of Systematics Collections, Washington, D. C., 216 pp.","Iverson, J. B. (1992) A Revised Checklist with Distribution Maps of the Turtles of the World. Privately printed, Richmond, Indiana, 363 pp.","Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 c) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (4), 74 - 77.","Lim, K. (1989 h) Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. The Pangolin, 2 (4), 63 - 66.","Lim, K. (1990 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 3 (1 - 4), 6 - 12.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Subharaj, R. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 5 (1 - 4), 5 - 9.","Lim, K. K. P. (1993 b) Reptiles & Amphibians. The Pangolin, 6 (3 - 4), 1 - 4.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Dijk, P. P. van. (2000) The status of turtles in Asia. Chelonian Research Monographs, 2, 15 - 23.","Goh, B. P. L., Sodhi, N. S., Li, D., Ho, S. H. & Ng, P. K. L. (2002) A Guide to Urban Creatures. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Chua, M. A. H. (2014 e) Black marsh terrapin at Mandai. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 197.","Burg, M. P. van den, Belleghem, S. M. van & Jesus Villanueva, C. N. de (2020) The continuing march of Common Green Iguanas: arrival on mainland Asia. Journal for Nature Conservation, 57 (125888), 1 - 6. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jnc. 2020.125888","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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44. Batagur affinis

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Batagur affinis, Biodiversity, Chordata, Batagur, Geoemydidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Batagur affinis (Cantor, 1847) — Non-native; Introduced. Southern River Terrapin Singapore records. Batagur baska —D.S. Johnson, 1964: 48 (Botanic Gardens).—K. Lim, 1988a: 5 (Seletar Reservoir).— K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 68.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 151.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 441.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 55.— Auliya, 2007: 40–41.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 18, 26, 53, 63, 64, 115, 143, 160, 165, 193, 203.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35. Batagur affinis — Das, 2010: 167.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119, 121.—W.C. Tan et al., 2022: 2. “ Batagur ” —P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 480. Batagur affinis affinis —TTWG, 2021: 192. Batagur affinis edwardmolli —Salleh & Esa, 2022: 1. Remarks. Previously known as B. baska, Praschag et al. (2008) reidentified populations from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra as B. affinis. Some authors have considered B. affinis native to Singapore and extirpated (Auliya 2007; Ng & Lim 2010; TTWG 2021), but no historical records of “native” individuals exist. Instead, there are only two records of B. affinis from Singapore, one of an individual released at SBG (Johnson 1964), which is ZRC.2.214 and was collected on 12 September 1961, and a large individual that was seen on 9 January 1988 at USRP (Lim 1988). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Botanic Gardens: ZRC.2.214 (12-Sep-1961). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Genus Mauremys Gray, 1870 (2 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 247, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Johnson, D. S. (1964) An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore. Rayirath (Raybooks) Publications, Singapore, x + 106 pp.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Johnson, D. S. (1992) Natural History of Singapore. Revised Edition. Tynron Press, Leicestershire, ix + 142 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilian Sudostasien. Natur und Tier, M ¸ nster, 512 pp.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1870) Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). With Figures of the Skulls of 36 Genera. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, [i] + 120 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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45. Platysternon megacephalum Gray 1831

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Platysternon megacephalum, Testudines, Platysternon, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Platysternidae, Taxonomy
Abstract: Platysternon megacephalum Gray, 1831 — Non-native; Introduced. Big-headed Turtle Singapore records. Platysternum megacephalum — Hanitsch, 1910b: 7 (Bukit Timah). Platysternon megacephalum — Boulenger, 1912: 26 (Bukit Timah).—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 125. Remarks. Hanitsch (1910) described receiving a live specimen of P. megacephalum caught near Bukit Timah, which Boulenger (1912) believed was likely introduced from China. This is most likely ZRC.2.209 at LKCNHM, which was collected on 5 October 1909. Platysternon megacephalum is native to China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam (TTWG 2021). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.209 (05-Oct-1909). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Family Podocnemididae Cope, 1868 (1 species) Genus Podocnemis Wagler, 1830 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 248-249, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Hanitsch, R. (1910 b) Annual report on the Raffles Museum and Library. In: Annual Departmental Reports of the Straits Settlements for the Year 1909. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 1 - 11.","Boulenger, G. A. (1912) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore, Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia, Taylor and Francis, London, xiii + 294 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10813"]}
Published: 2023
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46. Pelodiscus sinensis Wiegmann 1834

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Trionychidae, Reptilia, Testudines, Pelodiscus, Animalia, Pelodiscus sinensis, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Pelodiscus cf. sinensis Wiegmann, 1834 — Non-native; Established. Trionyx (Aspidonectes) sinensis Wiegmann, 1834: 189–195. Lectotype: ZMB 38, designated by Stuckas & Fritz (2011: 337); ZMB 37–39 were recognised as syntypes, but ZMB 37 is apparently lost, according to Fritz et al. (1994: 171). Type locality: “kleinen Insel im Tigerflusse, dicht bei Macao” (= small island in the Tiger River near Macao), China. Chinese Softshell Turtle (Figure 10D) Singapore records. Landemania perocellata — Gray, 1873: 80. Trionyx ? sinensis —K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988a: 28 (Mandai). ? Trionyx sinensis —K. Lim & F. Lim, 1988b: 51 (Upper Bukit Timah Road). Trionyx sinensis —K. Lim, 1989b: 21 (Upper Peirce Reservoir).—L.M. Chou & Lam, 1989: 92.— Corlett, 1992: 418. Pelodiscus sinensis —K. Lim, 1989h: 65 (Kranji Reservoir).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—Yong, 1990: 27.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 137, 151.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1993: 20, 21.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—R. Subaraj, 1994 (Seletar North Forest [USNF]; Seletar Reservoir).— R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 393, 394.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 41.—B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 52.—Iskandar, 2000: 92.—B.P.L. Goh et al., 2002: 145.— Anonymous, 2003: 92 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Auliya, 2007: 90–91.—T.Y. Goh & O’Riordan, 2007: 98, 99.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2007: 193.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 126, 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 20, 25, 26, 64, 143, 203.— Das, 2010: 177.—T.H. Ng & Lim, 2010: 121 (Jurong Lake).— D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—D.C.J. Yeo et al., 2010: 194.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2010: 251.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 462.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 126, 165.—K.K.P. Lim, 2014e: 264 (Singapore Botanic Gardens).—D.L. Yong et al., 2014: 203.—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99.—W. Wong, 2017: 64.—W. Cheong, 2020: 104 (River Safari).—TTWG, 2021: 33. Pelodiscus (= Trionyx) sinensis —P.K.L. Ng, 1992a: 141.—P.K.L. Ng, 1992b: 141. Remarks. Pelodiscus sinensis is a species complex native to central and eastern China, Hainan, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam, but has been introduced to at least 16 countries (TTWG 2021, Gong et al. 2018). Found commonly in Singapore’s freshwater bodies throughout the country (Baker & Lim 2012), including the nature reserves (Teo & Rajathurai 1997), P. cf. sinensis was first reported from Singapore by Gray (1873) who examined two specimens collected by Wallace.Assuming that the locality of the Wallace specimens is accurate, these specimens represent an early introduction of P. sinensis into Singapore. These records were not recognised in subsequent publications (e.g., Boulenger 1889), except by Pope (1935) who mentioned that records from “ Singapore, Siam, the Batan Islands and even California” are “highly questionable records”. Present-day specimens of P. sinensis are believed to have been first introduced into Singapore by a farmer who ferried in hatchlings in the 1970s to farm for food (Chou & Jam 1989). Although Singapore has its own native softshell turtles, A. cartilaginea and D. subplana, farmers favour P. sinensis because of its higher fecundity and faster growth rate (Chou & Jam 1989). Thus, individuals in the wild are from escapees and intentional releases (Ng & Lim 2010). The next reported record after Gray (1873), and the first documented field observation of P. cf. sinensis, came 115 years later (Table 2) when a small individual was found hiding in a rusty tin can at Mandai on 28 April 1988 (Lim & Lim 1988a). As P. cf. sinensis is currently recognised as a species complex, and since individuals in Singapore likely originated from multiple locations, Singapore’s population may be composed of multiple species. Occurrence. Ubiquitous. Common. Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable. Conservation priority. None, non-native species. IUCN conservation status. Vulnerable [2000]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Choa Chu Kang: ZRC.2.2525 (17-Mar-1986), ZRC.2.2526– ZRC.2.2527 (08-Dec-1979), ZRC.2.2549 (20-Jan-1987); Tampines Quarry Lake: ZRC.2.7305 (20-Jul-2014); Upper Seletar Reservoir: ZRC.2.6491 (14-Jun-2007). Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): NMW. Singapore localities. Choa Chu Kang—Kranji Reservoir—Jurong Lake—Mandai—River Safari—Seletar Reservoir (not specified)—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Tampines Quarry Lake—Upper Bukit Timah Road—Upper Peirce Reservoir—Upper Seletar North Forest—Upper Seletar Reservoir. Order Squamata Oppel, 1811 (117 species) Squamata Oppel, 1811: 5, 14. Lizards (40 species) Family Agamidae Gray, 1827 (7 species) Agamidae Gray, 1827: 57 (type genus Agama Daudin, 1802). Genus Aphaniotis Peters, 1864 (1 species) Otocryptis (Aphaniotis) W.C.H. Peters, 1864: 385 (type species: Otocryptis (Aphaniotis) fusca W.C.H. Peters, 1864, by monotypy; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 85-87, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Fritz, U., Obst, F. & Gnther, R. (1994) Kritischer typen-katalog der schildkr ˆ tensammlung (Reptilia: Testudines) des Zoologischen Museums Berlin. Mitteilungen aus dem Museum f ¸ r Naturkunde in Berlin. Zoologisches Museum und Institut fur Spezielle Zoologie Berlin, 70 (1), 157 - 175. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / mmnz. 19940700110","Gray, J. E. (1873) Hand-List of the Specimens of Shield Reptiles in the British Museum. Eighth Edition. British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 124 pp.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 a) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (2), 27 - 28.","Lim, K. & Lim, F. (1988 b) Reptiles. The Pangolin, 1 (3), 49 - 51.","Chou, L. M. & Lam, T. J. (1989) Introduction of exotic aquatic species in Singapore. In: DeSilva, S. S. (Ed.), Exotic Aquatic Organisms in Asia. Proceedings of the Workshop on Introduction of Exotic Aquatic Organisms in Asia. Asian Fisheries Society Special Publication. No. 3. Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, pp. 91 - 97.","Corlett, R. T. (1992) The ecological transformation of Singapore, 1819 - 1990. Journal of Biogeography, 19 (4), 411 - 420. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 2845569","Lim, K. (1989 h) Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. The Pangolin, 2 (4), 63 - 66.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim B. L. & Das, I. (1999) Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 151 pp.","Goh, B. P. L., Sodhi, N. S., Li, D., Ho, S. H. & Ng, P. K. L. (2002) A Guide to Urban Creatures. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Anonymous (2003) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve - A Decade of Wetland Conservation. National Parks Board, Singapore, 98 pp.","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, s. n., 99 pp.","Goh, T. Y. & O'Riordan, R. M. (2007) Are tortoises and freshwater turtles still traded illegally as pets in Singapore? Oryx, 41 (1), 97 - 100. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 003060530700155 X","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Lim, K. K. P. (2014 e) Chinese softshell turtle at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2014, 264.","Cheong, W. (2020) Consumption of a softshell turtle by Malayan water monitors. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2020, 104 - 105.","Gong, S., Vamberger, M., Auer, M., Praschag, P. & Fritz, U. (2018) Millennium-old farm breeding of Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus spp.) results in massive erosion of biodiversity. Science of Nature, 105, 34. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 00114 - 018 - 1558 - 9","Baker, N. & Lim, K. P. (2012) Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes. Updated Edition. Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd and Nature Society, Singapore, 180 pp.","Gray, J. E. (1827) A synopsis of the genera of saurian reptiles, in which some new genera are indicated, and the others reviewed by actual examination. Philosophical Magazine, or Annals of Chemistry, Mathematics, Astronomy, Natural History, and General Science, 2, 54 - 58. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 14786442708675620"]}
Published: 2023
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47. Chelonia mydas

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Cheloniidae, Chelonia mydas, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chelonia, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract: Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) — Native. Testudo Mydas Linnaeus, 1758: 197. Syntypes (3): UUZM 19, 26, 231 (not NRM and not UUZM 20 as in Smith & Smith [1979: 269]), according to Wallin (2001: 126); additionally, Bauer et al. (2013: 312) designated an unnumbered syntype in the MZUB, and NRM 5000 and 6880–82 were also designated as possible syntypes, according to Anders Rhodin (in Iverson, 2022: 16). Type locality: “[h]abitat ad insulas Pelagi: insulam Adscensionis &c.” (= The Pelagie Islands and Ascension Island); later restricted to “Insel Ascension” (= Ascension Island) by Mertens & M̧ller (1928: 23). Green Turtle (Figure 8B) Singapore records. “esculent turtle”— Crawfurd, 1856: 398. Chelonia virgata — &Gcedil;nther, 1864: 53. Chelone mydas — Hanitsch, 1898: 9.— Flower, 1899: 618.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 14.— Kobayashi, 1920: 394, 395, 296. Chelonia mydas — Hughes et al., 1942: 115, 118.—Sharma, 1973: 234.— Gremli, 1988: 62.—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 132, 151.—E.K. Chua, 1993: 113.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.—K.K.P. Lim, 1994b: 331.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2007: 119.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 176, 266 (Singapore Straits).—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 25.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2010: 158.—L.M. Chou, 2011: 77.—M.A.H. Chua, 2011: 280 (Semakau Landfill [PS]).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 452.—M.F.C. Ng, 2012: 146.—Y.K. Tan, 2015: 212–213 (“Selat Pandan” [= Pandan Strait]).—W. Wong, 2017: 86.—TTWG, 2021: 98. “Green turtle”—Zheng & J. Tan, 2017 (Changi Beach).—Van Miriah, 2002: Local.—Thiagarajan, 2020f (“Seringat-Kias…Lazarus Island” [= Pulau Sekijang Pelepah]).— Kow, 2022b (Lazarus Island). “Leatherback turtles”—K. Lee, 2003: 39. Remarks. The first report of C. mydas from Singapore is likely erroneous. Crawfurd (1856), who referred to it as the “esculent turtle”, noted that it was very abundant around Singapore, its offshore islands, and markets. Crawfurd (1856) was in all likelihood referring to E. imbricata as this species is more common, it is the only turtle known to nest in Singapore (see account below), and was commonly sold in markets (Raffles 1822). Ridley also heeded that C. mydas was not available in markets in Singapore where turtles were commonly sold and eaten (Shelford 1916). Upon that, the first report of C. mydas from Singapore belongs to &Gcedil;nther (1864) who examined two specimens from Cantor’s collection. However, no mention of Singapore is made in Cantor’s account (1847a). Neither do subsequent authors reference Cantor’s specimens. In total, there have only been eight subsequent reported observations of C. mydas in Singapore: one individual found by Flower in 1898 (1899b); one captured in 1914 (Kobayashi 1920); several individuals seen around Pulau Semakau in 2009 (Fig. 8B), including one trapped in a drift net in August 2011 (Chua 2011); a carcass of one individual observed floating at Selat Pandan on 9 June 2015 that had an obvious laceration on its plastron from a boat propeller (Tan 2015); a similar incident of one struck by a boat propeller that was found dead at Changi Beach on 2 January 2017 (Zheng & Tan 2017), three individuals seen at Seringat-Kias lagoon (Thiagarajan 2020f), and; an injured individual which was rescued off of Lazarus Island (Kow 2022b). Between Kobayashi (1920) and Chua (2011), C. mydas went unreported for 95 years (Table 2). The leatherback turtles referred to by Lee (2003) most likely represent C. mydas as leatherback turtles do not reside in Singapore’s waters and do not graze on seagrass. In addition, there are two skulls at LKCNHM from 14 May 2015 and 12 December 2015. There are no accounts of C. mydas nesting in Singapore, but it is expected that this species frequents Singapore to forage (TTWG 2021). If there is a seasonal foraging period in which C. mydas forages in Singapore, it should encompass the nesting period in Peninsular Malaysia which runs from February to September (Abd Mutalib et al. 2014). Albeit scant, the five records here span May to December. Cantor (1847a) said that C. mydas is caught in fishing stakes year-round in Malaysia. As Singapore forms part of its foraging habitat, C. mydas is considered native to Singapore. Occurrence. Native, Singapore is part of foraging habitat. Rare. Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered. Conservation priority. Highest. IUCN conservation status. Endangered [2004]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Changi Beach: ZRC.2.7099 (14-May-2015); Semakau Landfill : ZRC.2.7124 (12-Dec-2015). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. Changi Beach—Lazarus Island—Pandan Strait—Pulau Semakau—Pulau Sekijang Pelepah— Singapore Straits. Genus Eretmochelys Fitzinger, 1843 (1 species) Chelonia (Eretmochelys) Fitzinger, 1843: 30 (type species: Testudo imbricta Linnaeus, 1766, by original designation; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 67-69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Bauer, A. M., Ceregato, A. & Delfino, M. (2013) The oldest herpetological collection in the world: The surviving amphibian and reptile specimens of the Museum of Ulisse Aldrovandi. Amphibia-Reptilia, 34, 305 - 321. https: // doi. org / 10.1163 / 15685381 - 00002894","Iverson, J. B. (2022) A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines). Megataxa, 7 (1), 1 - 85. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / megataxa. 7.1.1","Crawfurd, J. (1856) A Descriptive Dictionary of the Indian Islands and Adjacent Countries. Bradbury and Evans, London, [i] + 459 pp.","Gnther, A. C. L. G. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, xxvii + 452 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5012","Hanitsch, R. (1898) Annual report of the curator and librarian on the Raffles Library and Museum, for the Year Ending 31 st December, 1897. In: Straits Settlements, Annual Reports for the Year 1898. Published by Authority, Singapore, pp. 11 - 22.","Flower, S. S. (1899 b) Notes on a second collection of reptiles made in the Malay Peninsula and Siam, from November 1896 - September 1898, with a list of the species recorded from those countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899 (4), 600 - 696, pls. 36 - 37.","Hanitsch, R. (1912 b) List of the Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Raffles Museum, Singapore. Raffles Library and Museum, Singapore, 19 pp.","Kobayashi, H. (1920) On some digenetic trematodes in Japan. Parasitology, 12 (4), 380 - 410. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0031182000014372","Hughes, R. C., Higginbotham, J. W. & Clary, J. W. (1942) The trematodes of reptiles, part I, systematic section. The American Midland Naturalist, 27 (1), 109 - 134. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 2421028","Gremli, M. (1988) Reptile visitors to local coastal waters. The Pangolin, 1 (3), 60 - 62.","Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K. (1992) A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160 pp.","Chua, E. K. (1993) Nature in Singapore, Ours to Protect. The Nature Society, Singapore, 132 pp.","Chou L. M., Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, K. K. P. (1994) Animalia. In: Wee, Y. C. & Ng, P. K. L. (Eds.), A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment, Singapore, pp. 70 - 106.","Lim, K. K. P. (1994 b) Reptiles. In: Ng, P. K. L. & Wee, Y. C. (Eds.), The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore. Nature Society, Singapore, pp. 213 - 227.","Chou, L. M. (2011) Marine Ecosystems. In: Ng, P. K. L., Corlett, R. T. & Tan, H. T. W. (Eds.), Singapore Biodiversity: An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development. Editions Didier Millet and Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore, pp. 76 - 87.","Chua, M. A. (2011) The herpetofauna and mammals of Semakau Landfill: A Project Semakau checklist. Nature in Singapore, 4, 277 - 287.","Kow, Z. S. (2022 b) Sick Green turtle with large growths on body rescued by yacht crew near Lazarus Island. Mothership, 8 August 2022. Available from: https: // mothership. sg / 2022 / 08 / yacht-rescue-turtle-growths / (accessed 8 August 2022)","Lee, K. (2003) Singapore Waters: Unveiling our Seas. Marine Conservation Group, Nature Society, Singapore, 145 pp.","Abd Mutalib, A. H., Fadzly, N., Ahmad, A. & Nasir, N. (2014) Understanding nesting ecology and behaviour of green marine turtles at Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia. Marine Ecology, 36 (4), 1003 - 1012. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / maec. 12197","Cantor, T. E. (1847 a) Catalogue of reptiles inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and islands, collected or observed by Theodore Cantor, Esq., M. D. Bengal Medical Service. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 16 (Part 2, No. 180), 607 - 656, pl. 20. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5057"]}
Published: 2023
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48. Dermochelys Blainville 1816

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Dermochelys, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Taxonomy, Dermochelyidae
Abstract: Genus Dermochelys Blainville, 1816 (1 species) Dermochelys Blainville, 1816: 111 bis (type species: Testudo coriacea Vandelli, 1761, by subsequent monotypy by Cuvier, 1829: 14; gender feminine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 71, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319
Published: 2023
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49. Carettochelys insculpta Ramsay 1886

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Reptilia, Testudines, Carettochelyidae, Animalia, Biodiversity, Carettochelys, Chordata, Carettochelys insculpta, Taxonomy
Abstract: Carettochelys insculpta Ramsay, 1886 — Non-native; Introduced. Pig-nosed Turtle Singapore records. Carettochelys insculpta —Goh & O-Riordan, 2007: 99.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 53, 64, 143, 160, 203.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 121 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—Kwan, 2015: 95 (Botanic Gardens; Tampines Quarry).—Muhammad Assiddiq, 2015: 162 (Botanic Gardens).—H.H. Tan, 2015: 99.—N. Baker, 2017: 28 (MacRitchie Reservoir).—V. Foo, 2020: 219 (Marina Barrage). “pig-nosed turtle”— How, 2018 (Bishan Park).—Kow, 2021 (Singapore Botanic Gardens). Remarks. Several records exist of C. insculpta in Singapore, including skeletal remains found on the shore of MR (Ng & Lim 2010) and TQ (Kwan 2015), and from live individuals observed at Eco-Lake at SBG (Kwan 2015; Muhammad Assiddiq 2015) and MR (Baker 2017). A live individual was seen being attacked by otters at Bishan Park on 27 February 2018, and a dead individual was photographed being eaten by a V. salvator at SBG on 12 September 2021 (Kow 2021). A dead, bloated specimen found at Marina Barrage on 13 November 2020 indicates that several individuals kept as pets in Singapore have been abandoned by their owners (Foo 2020). Since this individual was large (ca. 1.2 m), it is not known if the individual was released at its large size or attained that size in the wild after being released. Carettochelys insculpta is native to Papua Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia (TTWG 2021). In the 1990s, hatchlings were heavily imported for the pet trade (Goh & O’Riordan 2007; Ng & Lim 2010). LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: ZRC.2.6868 (03-Mar-2010); Pandan Reservoir: ZRC.2.6857 (10-Nov-2009); Tampines Quarry Lake: ZRC.2.7306 (20-Jul-2014). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Family Chelidae Gray, 1825 (1 species) Genus Chelus Duméril 1805 (1 species), Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on pages 244-245, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Baker, N. (2017) A Fly River turtle in MacRitchie Reservoir. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2017, 28.","Foo, V. (2020) Pignose turtle carcass at Marina Barrage. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2020, 219.","How, M. (2018) S'pore otters caught on camera messing with turtle, multiple injuries inflicted. Mothership, 8 March 2018. Available from: https: // mothership. sg / 2018 / 03 / otters-singapore-turtle-bishan / (accessed 14 January 2021)","Goh, T. Y. & O'Riordan, R. M. (2007) Are tortoises and freshwater turtles still traded illegally as pets in Singapore? Oryx, 41 (1), 97 - 100. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 003060530700155 X"]}
Published: 2023
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50. Pelochelys cantorii Gray 1864

Author: Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y., and Lim, Kelvin K. P.
Subjects: Trionychidae, Reptilia, Testudines, Animalia, Biodiversity, Chordata, Pelochelys, Pelochelys cantorii, Taxonomy
Abstract: Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864 — Native; Indeterminate. Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864: 90, figs. 9, 10. Holotype: BMNH 1947.3.6.21–22 (formerly BM 1860.4.19.1444), by original designation. Type locality: “Malacca”, Peninsular Malaysia. Cantor’s Giant Softshell (Figures 10B & 10C) Singapore records. Pelochelys bibronii ?— Gray, 1864 b: 91. Pelochelys Bibronii ?— Gray, 1870: 92. Pelochelys cantorii — Kumar, 2004: 1445.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 168.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 18.— Das, 2010: 177.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 463.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 168.—TTWG, 2021: 333. Remarks. Omitted from Singapore’s herpetofauna checklist after Gray (1864 b, 1870) first reported it, the occurrence of P.cantorii in Singapore is known from only three specimens predating the early 1900s.There is uncertainty on the origins of a skull of P. cantorii that Gray (1864) examined at the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons (now Hunterian Museum). The skull was believed to have been collected in Australia, but Gray (1864) suspected it was obtained in Singapore. Kumar (2004) cited Das (1995) when listing Singapore as part of the distribution of P. cantorii. Das (1995) must have either referenced Gray (1864 b; 1870) or two specimens deposited at LKCNHM that were obtained in Singapore between the late 1800s and early 1900s. Since then, P. cantorii was included more regularly as a member of Singapore’s herpetofauna. Regardless of the uncertainty of these specimens, P. cantorii is considered native and extirpated from Singapore (Ng & Lim 2010; TTWG 2021). Occurrence. Only known from three museum specimens predating the early 1900s. Likely extirpated. Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated. Conservation priority. Immediate priority, if rediscovered. IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021]. LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.140– ZRC.2.141 (no date). Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Singapore localities. No published localities. Genus Pelodiscus Fitzinger, 1835 (1 species) Pelodiscus Fitzinger, 1835: 110, 120, 127 (type species: Trionyx (Aspidonectes) sinensis Wiegmann, 1834, by subsequent designation by Fitzinger, 1843: 30; gender masculine)., Published as part of Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore's herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, pp. 1-378 in Zootaxa 5287 (1) on page 85, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7960319, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1864) Revision of the species of Trionychidae found in Asia and Africa, with the descriptions of some new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1864 (1), 76 - 98.","Gray, J. E. (1870) Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). With Figures of the Skulls of 36 Genera. Trustees [of the British Museum], London, [i] + 120 pp.","Kumar, A. B. (2004) Records of Leith's soft shell turtle, Aspideretes leithi (Gray, 1872) and Asian giant soft shell turtle Pelochelys cantorii (Gray, 1864) in Bharathapuzha River, Kerala. Zoos' Print Journal, 19 (4), 1445. https: // doi. org / 10.11609 / JoTT. ZPJ. 873.1445","Das, I. (2010) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand and South-East Asia. New Holland, London, 376 pp.","Das, I. (1995) Turtles and Tortoises of India. Oxford University Press, Bombay, 176 pp."]}
Published: 2023
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