Malayan box turtles use the typical anti-predatory behavior characteristic of box turtles - tucking their entire body inside their protective shell. This is possible because of their hinged plastron, which allows the bottom to close very tightly against the top, preventing a predator from harming the vulnerable areas of their arms, legs, and head. They can also swim very well, so the first line of defense used is to flee from perceived danger and hide along the pond or lake bottom.
Cuora amboinensis are most easily recognized by their dark olive or black colored head, with three yellow stripes running along each side. Adult turtles can reach a maximum size of 8". The carapace is uniform in coloring, also expressing a dark olive to black hue, with varying degrees of doming and shape among the different subspecies. C. a. kamarona has a high-domed shell, while C. a. amboinensis and C. a. couro have more elongated and shallow carapaces. C. a. lineata has a distinguishable light colored line running along the the center keel. Juveniles have a flattened carapace with three prominent keels. Adults gradually lose these keels and the carapace becomes more domed.
Sexual dimorphism between males and females is not obvious. Differences between genders are slight and not expressed until the turtle reaches maturity, at 4 or 5 years of age. Generally, males posses a slightly more concave plastron, longer, thicker tails, and larger claws when mature. Females have short, stubby tails and shorter claws.
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes shaped differently
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
The longevity of Cuora amboinensis is usually from 25 to 30 years. One specimen was reported to have lived for 38 years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 38 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 30 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 38.2 years.
Unlike most box turtles, Malayan box turtles are extremely aquatic and prefer a warm, wet environment. They are specific to tropical rainforest areas, with a constant temperature between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and are never found where temperatures dip below 70 degrees. C. amboinensis are the most aquatic of box turtles in the world, and because they prefer still, warm water, Malayan box turtles are found quite often in rice paddies, marshes, and shallow ponds in these tropical areas.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial ; freshwater
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; temporary pools
Wetlands: marsh
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
Malayan box turtles are found only in lowland tropical rainforest areas of Southeast Asia. Four subspecies of Cuora amboinensis occupy different areas within this region. These are C. a. couro, C. a. kamarona, C. a. lineata, and C. a. amboinensis. This habit of extreme habitat-specificity is unique in Asian box turtles, as most also range into alpine regions or areas north of the Tropic of Cancer.
Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )
Other common names include Malaysian box turtle, Celebes box turtle, Indonesian box turtle, water box turtle, Siamese box turtle, Vietnamese box turtle, Java box turtle, and Southeast Asian box turtle.
Malayan box turtle populations are declining due to the current over-exploitation of turtles for national and international trade in Asian countries. Conservation plans are underway to devise a strategy to stablize this decline. Currently, the American Zoological Association is finalizing plans for a master studbook for the genus Cuora and is considering including private breeders and collectors as suppliers of male turtles. Captive reproduction has been very inconsistent; however, a few husbandry and breeding techniques have been developed for many Asian turtle species, including Cuora amboinensis. Currently, all subspecies of C. amboinensis have been bred successfully in captivity in zoos or private collections. Unfortunately, many of these are isolated instances and the future is uncertain.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
Cuora amboinensis are a very popular species of turtle for the pet trade because of their hardiness and current availability; however, this species and many other asian box turtles are being over-exploited at an alarming rate. Malayan box turtles are also harvested to be made into souvenirs in Asian countries. Another benefit to humans is that Malayan box turtles, as with most Asian box turtles, are used extensively as a gourmet food in the Oriental. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a high demand to harvest many wild turtles for human consumption.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; food ; body parts are source of valuable material
Malayan box turtles are very similar in diet to other box turtles, preferring an omnivorous meal. A wide variety of greens are eaten, including vegetables, some fruits, mushrooms, and various aquatic plants. They also feed on waxworms, crickets, fish, and many types of insects. Feeding occurs in the water and accomodates their highly aquatic lifestyle. They do not require food on a daily basis, Malayan box turtles eat twice a week without detrimental effects.
Animal Foods: fish; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves
Other Foods: fungus
Primary Diet: omnivore
Cuora amboinensis achieves fertilization internally by means of copulation between sexes. Mating occurs in the water. After copulation, females find a moist, well-drained area and dig a nest with their hind feet to lay the eggs in, which usually number from 1 to 5 spherical eggs per nest. The constant, warm temperature is beneficial for more frequent reproduction, and these turtles are capable of laying several nests per year. The incubation time is roughly 76 days between fertilization and hatching. A turtle is able to reproduce once it reaces the age of sexual maturity, which is at 4 or 5 years old.
Breeding interval: Malayan box turtles breed several times each year.
Breeding season: Breeding may occur throughout the year.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 5.
Average gestation period: 76 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 5 (high) years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 4 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 5 (high) years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 4 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
After finding a safe nesting spot and laying their eggs, these turtles do not provide any further parental care.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female)
The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) is a species of Asian box turtle.
It is found in the Nicobar Islands, eastern India (Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, central and southern Vietnam, west Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines (Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Panay, etc.), Indonesia (Sulawesi, Ambon Island, Sumatra, Borneo, East Malaysia, Brunei, Nias, Enggano, Simeulue, Java, Sumbawa, Halmahera, Ceram, Seram, Buru, East Timor, Bali, Palawan and Maluku), and possibly China (Guangxi and Guangdong) and Sri Lanka.
The type locality is "Amboine" (or "Amboina") Island, today Ambon Island in Indonesia.
These turtles have blackish-brown to olive-brown colored shells that are not as ornate as many other box turtles. All have a blackish-olive head with three yellow stripes on the side. The male can be identified by his slightly concave plastron. There is no specific rule as to what the underbellies may look like, for either sex. In addition, scutes and growth rings are a poor indicator of age (similar to tree rings, but less accurate); the only reliable method of estimating a turtle’s age is to evaluate the overall texture and wear of the shell, as growth rings form irregularly.[4][5]
There are four subspecies that are primarily differentiated by differences in the color and shape of the carapace:[6]
Several distinct populations are believed to represent up to four more subspecies, or at least striking varieties.[8]
C. a. kamaroma from Thailand
Plastron of C. a. kamaroma
C. a. lineata from Myanmar
C. amboinensis "Philippines population" from Leyte
C. a. kamaroma has hybridized in captivity with the Vietnamese pond turtle – a species nearly extinct in the wild – and with males of the Chinese pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii).[9] Other hybrids are known, like C. amboinensis × Cuora trifasciata.[8]
They are omnivorous, with younger turtles tending towards more meat consumption and older turtles eating a more herbivorous diet.[4]
Although Cuora amboinensis is classified as endangered by the IUCN,[10] they are able to thrive in some areas of the world. For example, they can be found in the storm drains of Brunei. These are seriously polluted, and yet seem to be extremely popular habitat for these turtles and other animals that can withstand eutrophication. In some places, this species is hunted for use in folk medicine.[11]
Cuora amboinensis can be quite difficult to breed in captivity, compared with other box turtles. These turtles have a mating ritual very similar to that of other box turtles. No courtship occurs, the male simply climbs upon the female. He then snaps at her head, so that she closes the front half of her shell, opening the back.
Cuora amboinensis is one of the most heavily traded species in Southeast Asia, captured from the wild in huge numbers to supply demand for pets, meat and for use in traditional medicines. Indonesia is the greatest source of this species and while there are quotas in place, these quotas are regularly exceeded.
Any individual considering a turtle as a pet should thoroughly research both general care and the care of the particular species in which they are interested. Individuals considering a Cuora amboinensis as a pet should keep in mind that it is a tropical, non-hibernating species who needs much warmer water (about 82 °F) than many other semi-aquatic species. The adult Cuora amboinensis is smaller in comparison to more well-known species such as the red-eared slider or cooter, but a fully grown adult will generally need at least a 55-gallon tank and this habitat should be semi-aquatic, not terrestrial.
Cuora amboinensis is far more aquatic than many other box turtle species. Unfortunately, this has often led to pet Cuoras being incorrectly housed in terrestrial habitats. Although they are clumsy swimmers and need shallower water than other semi-aquatic turtles that are stronger swimmers, (e.g., sliders, cooters, and painteds), they tend to vastly prefer being in the water to on land. In the wild, they will often live in almost entirely in water only emerging to bask and to lay eggs. They can even mate in the water.
The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) is a species of Asian box turtle.
It is found in the Nicobar Islands, eastern India (Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, central and southern Vietnam, west Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines (Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Panay, etc.), Indonesia (Sulawesi, Ambon Island, Sumatra, Borneo, East Malaysia, Brunei, Nias, Enggano, Simeulue, Java, Sumbawa, Halmahera, Ceram, Seram, Buru, East Timor, Bali, Palawan and Maluku), and possibly China (Guangxi and Guangdong) and Sri Lanka.
The type locality is "Amboine" (or "Amboina") Island, today Ambon Island in Indonesia.
