Iverson and McCord, 1992a
False-eyed turtle
Recognition
The carapace (to 17.6 cm) is rugose with growth annuli, tricarinate (the low medial keel is best developed), unserrated or only slightly serrated posteriorly, and has vertebrals that are broader than long. The carapace is dark brown to reddish brown, and may have dark streaks or flecks. The plastron is black with a yellow border. The bridge is also black, and the undersides of the marginals are yellow with an occasional dark blotch. The plastral formula is pect > abd > an > gul > fem > hum. The head is narrow with a series of small scales present between the orbit and tympanum. The head is uniform yellow to olive-green, dorsolaterally there is a black-bordered longitudinal yellowish to olive-green blotch, which is interrupted posteriorly, but continues on to the neck as a separate narrow, dark bordered stripe. The blotch may be divided into two distinct ocelli, hourglass-shaped, or unconstricted. If ocelli are present, they lack dark centers. Jaws and chin are yellow. The neck is dark brown to black dorsally with a medial black-bordered salmon to orange stripe, ventrally it is yellow anteriorly but orange or salmon posteriorly. Limbs dark olive on top, lighter beneath.
Sexual dimorphism as in S. bealei for shell and tail only.
Distribution
S. pseudocellata is known only from western Hainan Island, China. De Bruin and Artner (in press) were unable to locate this species on a recent expedition to Hainan.
Geographic Variation, Habitat, and Natural History
Not reported.
Remark
Like Ocadia glyphistoma and O. phillipeni, this species is known only via the pet trade from specimens of uncertain provenance. Some herpetologists believe it to be an intergeneric hybrid.
IUCN Red List Status (1996)
Data deficient.