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Geochelone platynota (Blyth 1863:83) Syntypes (3, supposedly in the BMNH and ZSI according to Smith 1931:140): ZSI 787, 788, and 789 (Das et al. 1998:128; Kundu et al. 2018:15, where all types are photographed). Boulenger (1889:162) listed three additional specimens in the BMNH but they were not listed as types., Published as part of Iverson, John B., 2022, A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines), pp. 1-85 in Megataxa 7 (1) on page 52, DOI: 10.11646/megataxa.7.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5964441, {"references":["Smith, M. A. (1931) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I. Loricata, Testudines. Taylor and Francis, London, 185 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1436417","Das, I., Dattagupta, B. & Gayen, N. C. (1998) History and catalogue of reptile types in the collection of the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta. Journal of South Asian Natural History, 3 (2), 121 - 172.","Kundu, S., Kumar, V., Murthy, B. H. C. K & Chandra, K. (2018) Chelonian types of National Zoological Collections. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 70 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.26515 / rzsi / v 118 / i 1 / 2018 / 122300","Boulenger, G. A. (1889) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). Trustees of the Museum, London, 311 pp."]}

Successful restoration of Geochelone platynota to Dry Zone ecosystems in Myanmar depends on the survival of translocated tortoises and, therefore, a knowledge of predators and predation is important. We here report the loss of 28 and approximately 200 translocated G. platynota to Eurasian golden jackals (Canis aureus) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa), respectively, at Shwe Settaw Wildlife Sanctuary in central Myanmar. Measures to reduce the risk of future predation include structural reinforcement of acclimation pens to deter wild pigs and the experimental use of large cat (e.g., tiger [Panthera tigris] and leopard [Panthera pardus]) odors to repel jackals and wild pigs from the translocation area.

The sedative effects of intranasal midazolam and dexmedetomidine were evaluated in 2 tortoise species as a means to facilitate handling and performing diagnostic procedures. Six red-footed tortoises ( Chelonoidis carbonaria ) and 6 Indian star tortoises ( Geochelone platynota ) received the following treatments in a randomized order with 2-week washout periods between the treatments: midazolam (0.5 and 1.5mg/kg), dexmedetomidine (0.05 and 0.15mg/kg), and saline control. Tortoises were evaluated and scored for sedation (using a previously published subjective method) by blinded observers, and results were averaged for each species and treatment group. Low-dose dexmedetomidine (0.05mg/kg) in red-footed tortoises resulted in a significantly higher median sedation score at 5 minutes compared with other treatments. Control saline resulted in a higher median sedation score 5 minutes after administration in Indian star tortoises compared with red-footed tortoises. No other significant differences were observed between treatments or between species. The results suggest that intranasal administration of midazolam or dexmedetomidine, at the dosages used in this study, do not provide effective sedation in red-footed tortoises or Indian star tortoises, based on a subjective scoring system.

The once abundant Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) was functionally extirpated from Myanmar largely due to exploitation for wildlife trade markets. Geochelone platynota is ende...

Background: Advantages of handheld and small bench-top biochemical analyzers include requirements for smaller sample volume and practicality for use in the field or in practices, but little has been published on the performance of these instruments compared with standard reference methods in analysis of reptilian blood. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare reptilian blood biochemical values obtained using the Abaxis VetScan Classic bench-top analyzer and a Heska i-STAT handheld analyzer with values obtained using a Roche Hitachi 911 chemical analyzer. Methods: Reptiles, including 14 bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), 4 blue-tongued skinks (Tiliqua gigas), 8 Burmese star tortoises (Geochelone platynota), 10 Indian star tortoises (Geochelone elegans), 5 red-tailed boas (Boa constrictor), and 5 Northern pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus), were manually restrained, and a single blood sample was obtained and divided for analysis. Results for concentrations of albumin, bile acids, calcium, glucose, phosphates, potassium, sodium, total protein, and uric acid and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase obtained from the VetScan Classic and Hitachi 911 were compared. Results for concentrations of chloride, glucose, potassium, and sodium obtained from the i-STAT and Hitachi 911 were compared. Results: Compared with results from the Hitachi 911, those from the VetScan Classic and i-STAT had variable correlations, and constant or proportional bias was found for many analytes. Bile acid data could not be evaluated because results for 44 of 45 samples fell below the lower linearity limit of the VetScan Classic. Conclusions: Although the 2 portable instruments might provide measurements with clinical utility, there were significant differences compared with the reference analyzer, and development of analyzer-specific reference intervals is recommended.

Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus-1 (STAdV-1) is a newly discovered virus infecting endangered and threatened tortoises. It was initially described from a confiscated group of 105 Sulawesi tortoises (Indotestudo forsteni) obtained by the Turtle Survival Alliance and distributed to five sites with available veterinary care across the United States. In a 3-yr period from the initial outbreak, one multi-species collection that rehabilitated and housed adenovirus-infected Sulawesi tortoises experienced deaths in impressed tortoises (Manouria impressa) and a Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota). Impressed tortoises that died had evidence of systemic viral infection with histopathologic features of adenovirus. Adenovirus was identified by consensus nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and subsequent sequencing of PCR products. Sequencing indicated that the adenovirus infecting these impressed tortoises and Burmese star tortoise was STAdV-1. In one impressed tortoise, viral infection was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. In situ hybridization using a semiautomated protocol and fluorescein-labeled riboprobe identified STAdV-1 inclusions in spleen, liver, kidney, and testis of one impressed tortoise. The impact of this virus on captive and wild populations of tortoises is unknown; however, these findings indicate that STAdV-1 can be transmitted to and can infect other tortoise species, the impressed tortoise and Burmese star tortoise, when cohabitated with infected Sulawesi tortoises.