The Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Mauremys mutica, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (=Bataguridae). It is found in China (Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan etc.), Japan (introduced and naturally (Ryukyu archipelago), Taiwan, and northern and central Vietnam and possibly adjacent Laos. It is the parent of several hybrid Asian pond turtles that were described as new species. "Fujian Pond Turtles" Mauremys iversoni are hybrid specimens mainly produced in Chinese turtle farms but possibly occasionally occurring in the wild as well, usually from matings between female Asian Yellow Pond Turtle and Golden Coin Turtle Cuora trifasciata males. The supposed Mauremys pritchardi are wild and captive-bred hybrids between the present species and the Chinese Pond Turtle Chinemys reevesi. One subspecies is currently recognized:
recent genetic studies (Fong et al. 2007) have shown that further subspecies might exit, especially in Vietnam and on Hainan. Footnotes
http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/field_guide/field_guide_intro.htm These turtles are being threatened by too much hunting and eating of them by people buying them for food in Asian markets. Look under link for more info on the turtle. References
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