Pritchard and McCord, 1991
Fujian pond turtle
Recognition
The carapace (to 19.4 cm) is elliptical with domed sides, but flattened dorsally, highest at intervertebral seam 2-3, and widest at the level of marginal 8. A low medial keel is present, as are also the remnants of two dorsolateral keels. All vertebrals are broader than long with the 4th widest, the 1st only slightly anteriorly flared, and the 5th posteriorly flared. Both anterior and posterior marginals are flared; the posterior carapacial rim is only slightly serrated (more so in juveniles) with a small posterior notch. Scute surface is rugose with growth annuli. The carapace is reddish brown with dark seams and medial stripe; fine dark radiating lines may be present on each scute. The plastron is large with a longer and broader hindlobe than forelobe. It is slightly upturned anteriorly and notched posteriorly. The bridge is of moderate length. Plastral formula is: pect >< abd > an > fem > gul > hum. The plastron is orangish yellow with a dark blotch on each scute; the dark blotches often coalesce to form a horseshoe-like figure joined at across the anal scutes. Each axillary and inguinal scute has a small black spot, and the ventral surface of the marginals is yellow with dark seams which may expand into a blotch in some individuals, especially at the bridge. The head is yellowish green dorsally with two stripes extending from the orbit to the tympanum. The upper orange-brown to yellowish green stripe is broad and black-bordered; the lower yellowish green one is not black bordered. Dorsal to these is another black-bordered light stripe that extends from above the tympanum down the neck. A narrow yellow line runs from the orbit forward to the nostril. No dorso-medial stripe is present on the head. The jaws are yellow and the upper jaw lacks a medial notch. The triturating surfaces lack ridges. The neck is olive dorsally, olive to pinkish orange laterally, and orange to orangish yellow ventrally. The outer surface of the limbs is olive-brown, the inner surface yellow to orange. Toes are webbed. The tail is colored as the limbs with two orange dorsal stripes.
Males have slightly concave plastra and longer, thicker tails with the vent beyond the posterior carapace rim. The plastra of females are flat and their shorter tail has the vent beneath the carapacial marginals.
Distribution
Fujian and Guizhou provinces, China.
Geographic Variation
The single Guizhou specimen studied by Iverson and McCord (1994) differed considerably from the Fujian population in having a wider plastral hindlobe and a relatively longer interabdominal seam; they felt it may represent a separate taxon.
The holotype of Clemmys guangxiensis Qin, 1992 is a Mauremys iversoni, whereas the paratype probably represents M. mutica (Iverson and McCord, 1994).
Habitat
Pools and backwaters of mountain streams at about 500 m elevation.
Natural History
Artner (1995b) has described the reproduction biology of this species. When kept together, the male is very aggressive towards the female, trying to mount her and biting her neck. Courtship behavior is virtually absent—the male simply mounts the female. Eventually the male slides off sideways, and the pair remains in this position for approximately 15 minutes, until the female releases herself from the male.
In early May and mid-June, Artner's (1995b) female laid two clutches of large (46 x 27 mm) eggs. The young emerged after an incubation period of 74 days (at 28°C); they were 41 mm and weighed 13 g.
IUCN Red List Status (1996)
Data deficient.