The nominate subspecies of the Southern River Terrapin, commonly known as the Western Malay River Terrapin.
Lineage: Turtles and Tortoises (TESTUDINES) > Cryptodira (CRYPTODIRA) > Durocryptodira (DUROCRYPTODIRA) > Testudinoid Turtles Superfamily (TESTUDINOIDEA) > Geoemydid Turtles (GEOEMYDIDAE) > Batagurine Turtles Subfamily (BATAGURINAE) > River Terrapins (Batagur) > Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) > Western Malay River Terrapin (Batagur affinis affinis). This path helps place the taxon within its family, genus, or species-level context.
Plate page 224
Chinese Name
马来潮龟指名亚种
English Name
Western Malay River Terrapin
Scientific Name
Batagur affinis affinis
Rank
Subspecies
Plate notes
Batagur affinis affinis
Trivia
The type locality is Penang, Malaysia. The subspecies name 'affinis' is repeated to indicate the nominate form. The common name 'Western Malay River Terrapin' reflects its distribution in western Malaysia and Sumatra.
Overview
The nominate subspecies of the Southern River Terrapin, commonly known as the Western Malay River Terrapin.
Scientific Name
Batagur affinis affinis
Ecological Habits
Same as the species: inhabits large rivers and estuaries, herbivorous, nests on sandy banks.
Major Threats & Conservation
Same as the species: overexploitation, habitat degradation, and loss. Extirpated from Singapore but reintroduced. Protected under CITES Appendix I.
Morphological Characteristics
Maximum SCL: males 50.2 cm, females 54.6 cm. Similar to the species in overall morphology, with males displaying bright head coloration during breeding.
Natural Distribution & Conservation Status
Distributed in Indonesia (Sumatra), Malaysia (West), Singapore (extirpated, reintroduced), and Thailand. Estimated indigenous AOO: 68,241 km²; EOO: 298,357 km². Conservation status: Critically Endangered as part of Batagur affinis. CITES: Appendix I.
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