Species / Testudines taxon
Western Black-bridged Leaf Turtle
Cyclemys atripons
A medium-sized leaf turtle distributed in mainland Southeast Asia, known for its black-bridged plastron. Relatively common but understudied.
Lineage: Turtles and Tortoises (TESTUDINES) > Cryptodira (CRYPTODIRA) > Durocryptodira (DUROCRYPTODIRA) > Testudinoid Turtles Superfamily (TESTUDINOIDEA) > Geoemydid Turtles (GEOEMYDIDAE) > Geoemydine Turtles Subfamily (GEOEMYDINAE) > Asian Leaf Turtles (Cyclemys) > Western Black-bridged Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys atripons). This path helps place the taxon within its family, genus, or species-level context.
- Chinese Name
- 黑桥摄龟
- English Name
- Western Black-bridged Leaf Turtle
- Scientific Name
- Cyclemys atripons
- Rank
- Species
Plate notes
Cyclemys atripons
Trivia
Name from Latin ater (black) and pons (bridge), referring to the dark bridge on the plastron. Type locality in Trat Province, Thailand, near the Cambodian border. Often confused with Cyclemys dentata.
Overview
A medium-sized leaf turtle distributed in mainland Southeast Asia, known for its black-bridged plastron. Relatively common but understudied.
Scientific Name
Cyclemys atripons
Ecological Habits
Inhabits slow-moving streams, ponds, and swamps in lowland forests. Omnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and small fish. Nocturnal activity reported. Lays 2–4 eggs per clutch.
Major Threats & Conservation
Habitat destruction and overharvesting for food and pet trade. Hybridizes with Cyclemys oldhamii in parts of its range. Protected in some reserves but enforcement weak.
Morphological Characteristics
Carapace oval, brown with radiating pattern; plastron yellow with broad black bridges; head olive with dark spots; max SCL around 25 cm. Males have concave plastron.
Natural Distribution & Conservation Status
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam. Estimated AOO: 8,500 km²; EOO: 12,000 km². IUCN: Not assessed; TFTSG: Near Threatened. CITES: Appendix II as Cyclemys spp.
Open the source plate
This entry is linked to plate page 259. Return to the interactive tree to inspect the high-resolution plate and full AI guide.
Open Taxonomy Tree