Identifying Characteristics:
- Species: Cyclemys spengleri
- Size: Small
- Carapace: Long, flattened, and narrow, with three prominent keels. The posterior marginal scutes exhibit distinct serrations.
- Plastron: Dark-colored with yellow borders.
- Other Features: Overhanging beak-shaped upper jaw and large eyes. Average carapace length is approximately 11.5 cm.
Biology and Ecology:
- Habitat: Primarily inhabits primary and secondary forests on the northern slopes of Vietnam, at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,500 meters.
- Behavior: Often found under leaf litter or near small streams.
- Diet: Primarily consumes small animals, including snails, earthworms, and other forest-dwelling invertebrates.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Northern mountainous regions, including Lào Cai, Tuyên Quang, Vĩnh Phúc (Tam Đảo National Park), Bắc Giang, Sơn La, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Đà Nẵng, and Quảng Nam provinces.
- Global: Southern China.
Conservation Status:
- Significance: Possesses scientific and aesthetic value, offering students the opportunity to study its ecological behavior in its natural environment.
- Threats: Its small size and attractive appearance lead to its capture and trade for the pet market, causing rapid population decline.
- Conservation Needs: Requires strict measures to prohibit hunting and trade. Captive breeding programs in protected areas are needed to facilitate reintroduction into the natural environment and preserve the gene pool.