Published May 9, 2022. Open access. | Purchase book ❯ |
Brown Wood-Turtle (Rhinoclemmys annulata)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Testudines | Geoemydidae | Rhinoclemmys annulata
English common name: Brown Wood-Turtle.
Spanish common names: Tortuga trueno, bambera, montañera, tortuga pambilera (Ecuador, Colombia); tortuga sabanera parda (Panamá); tortuga del bosque, tortuga terrestre café (Costa Rica).
Recognition: ♂♂ 20.2 cmMaximum straight length of the carapace. ♀♀ 22.6 cmMaximum straight length of the carapace..1 The Brown Wood-Turtle (Rhinoclemmys annulata) can be identified from other Chocoan land and freshwater turtles mainly on the basis of carapace shape and coloration.2 The carapace may be yellowish to blackish, strongly domed, and has a distinctive vertebral keel with a yellowish coloration.3–5 The plastron is almost entirely black, with the exception of the periphery, which is yellowish cream.3,6 Rhinoclemmys annulata can be separated from R. melanosterna and R. nasuta by having a domed (rather than flattened) carapace, weakly-developed interdigital membranes, and no light dorsolateral stripes on the head.3,7 Males of R. annulata have a narrower carapace, a more concave plastron, and a longer tail than females.8 This species differs from mud turtles of the genus Kinosternon by lacking movable hinges in the plastron.9
Figure 1: Individuals of Rhinoclemmys annulata from coastal Ecuador: Tundaloma Lodge, Esmeraldas province (); Guayas province (); Canandé Biological Reserve, Esmeraldas province (). ad=adult, sa=subadult, j=juvenile.
Natural history: RareTotal average number of reported observations per locality less than ten. in Ecuador,10 but frequentRecorded weekly in densities below five individuals per locality. in Costa Rica.11 Rhinoclemmys annulata is a terrestrial to semi-aquatic turtle that inhabits lowland rainforests, seasonally dry forests, swamps, forest clearings, and human-modified environments such as pastures and plantations.4,10–12 Brown Wood-Turtles are the most terrestrial of the Rhinoclemmys genus, spending most of their life on the forest floor.9,11,13 However, it is not uncommon to see them nearby, or submerged in, bodies of water such as streams, drainage ditches, and swamps.9,11,14 Brown Wood-Turtles are active during the day, with an activity peak between 7:00 and 10:00 am or during and immediately after periods of heavy rain.8,11 When not active, these shy turtles rest among tangled vines, under dense herbaceous vegetation,15 in dense leaf-litter, beneath the root systems of trees, or between buttress roots.9,16 In Costa Rica, the average home range size of a sampled population was 2.86 ha.11 In a captive Colombian population, these turtles spent up to 85.6% of their time simply resting, 7.1% moving, and 2.1% basking.14
Brown Wood-Turtles are almost entirely herbivorous.11 In the wild, they feed primarily on ferns,11 but also on fruits, shrubs, spikemosses, vines, and seedlings.8,11 In captivity, they prefer bread and fruits such as papaya, cantaloupe, apples, and bananas.7,8 Because of their dietary preference, this species has been identified as an important seed disperser.11 The cryptic behavior and camouflage of Rhinoclemmys annulata constitutes its primary line of defense, since the species is not known to make burrows.8 Juveniles and eggs are preyed upon by hawks and vultures,12 and both young and adult individuals are infested by ticks and leeches.9,10,17 The breeding season of R. annulata occurs throughout the year and, in some areas, is correlated with precipitation.2,8 Females deposit 1–2 elliptical eggs that measure about 3.7 x 7.0 cm.4 These are laid in shallow nests or on bare soil.4 The females sometimes cover them with leaf-litter, but they provide no additional care to the clutch.4 The incubation period is 85–141 days (about 3–5 months) and the hatchlings measure an average of 6.3 cm in carapace length.3
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..18,19 Rhinoclemmys annulata is listed in this category given its wide distribution over areas that have not been heavily affected by deforestation, including the entire Colombian Pacific coast and major ecological reserves in Ecuador: Cotacachi Cayapas, Cayapas Mataje, and Mache Chindul. Therefore, the species is considered to be facing no major immediate extinction threats. Although some populations in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama appear to be stable, those outside protected areas in Ecuador and some parts of Colombia are declining due to habitat loss and indiscriminate harvesting.2,3 Adult turtles are hunted for medicinal use, carving of handicrafts, consumption, or to be sold as pets.3,20 In Ecuador, it is estimated that nearly 60% of the forest habitat of the Brown Wood-Turtle has already been destroyed.21 These threats, in combination with the species’ natural low fecundity,3 may result in R. annulata being included in a threatened category in the future.22
Distribution: Rhinoclemmys annulata is native to an estimated 310,269 km2 area in the Chocó and Mesoamerica biogeographic regions.1 The species occurs throughout the Atlantic lowlands of southern Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panamá, and the Pacific lowlands of eastern Panamá, western Colombia, and Ecuador. In Ecuador, R. annulata has been recorded at elevations between 0 and 463 m (Fig. 2).
Figure 2: Distribution of Rhinoclemmys annulata in Ecuador. The star corresponds to the type locality: Esmeraldas province. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The generic name Rhinoclemmys, which comes from the Greek words rhinos (meaning “nose”) and klemmys (meaning “tortoise”),23 refers to the protuberant snout of some species of the genus.24 The specific epithet annulata is a Latin word meaning “furnished with a ring.” It probably refers to the growth rings on the scutes of the carapace.5
See it in the wild: Although Brown Wood-Turtles are commonly kept as pets in rural houses throughout western Ecuador, they are rarely encountered in the wild. Most recent observations come from forested areas along the Chongón Colonche and Mache Chindul mountain ranges as well as from private reserves Canandé and Jama Coaque. In these areas, the turtles may be found by walking along forest trails near slow-moving rivers, ponds, and swamps right after a heavy rain during morning hours.
Special thanks to Lauren Klaras for symbolically adopting the Brown Wood-Turtle and helping bring the Reptiles of Ecuador book project to life.
Click here to adopt a species.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Jose VieirabAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2022) Brown Wood-Turtle (Rhinoclemmys annulata). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/CNDL4838
Literature cited:
- Rhodin AGJ, Iverson JB, Bour R, Fritz U, Georges A, Shaffer HB, van Dijk PP (2021) Turtles of the world: annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status. Chelonian Research Monographs 8: 1–472. DOI: 10.3854/crm.8.checklist.atlas.v9.2021
- Rueda-Almonacid JV, Carr JL, Mittermeier RA, Rodríguez-Mahecha JV, Mast RB, Vogt RC, Rhodin AGJ, de la Ossa-Velásquez J, Rueda JN, Mittermeier CG (2007) Las tortugas y los cocodrilianos de los países andinos del trópico. Conservación Internacional, Bogotá, 538 pp.
- Giraldo A, Carr JL, Garcés-Restrepo MF (2012) Rhinoclemmys annulata. In: Páez VP, Morales-Betancourt MA, Lasso CA, Castaño-Mora OV, Bock BC (Eds) Biología y conservación de las tortugas continentales de Colombia. Serie Editorial Recursos Hidrobiológicos y Pesqueros Continentales de Colombia, Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH), Bogotá, 300–304.
- Giraldo A, Garcés-Restrepo MF, Carr JL (2013) Rhinoclemmys annulata. Catálogo de Anfibios y Reptiles de Colombia 1: 31–34.
- Ernst CH (1980) Rhinoclemmys annulata (Gray) Brown land terrapin. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 250: 1–2.
- Savage JM (2002) The amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica, a herpetofauna between two continents, between two seas. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 934 pp.
- Carr JL, Almendáriz A (1989) Contribución al conocimiento de la distribución geográfica de los quelonios del Ecuador occidental. Revista Politécnica 14: 75–103.
- Mittermeier RA (1971) Notes on the behavior and ecology of Rhinoclemmys annulata Gray. Herpetologica 27: 485–488.
- Leenders T (2019) Reptiles of Costa Rica: a field guide. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 625 pp.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Moll D, Jansen KP (1995) Evidence for a role in seed dispersal by two tropical herbivorous turtles. Biotropica 27: 121–127.
- Acuña-M. RA (1993) Las tortugas continentales de Costa Rica. Editorial ICER, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, 58 pp.
- Medem F (1962) La distribución geográfica y ecología de los Crocodylia y Testudinata en el Departamento del Chocó. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas, y Naturales 11: 279–303.
- Castillo Flor YL, Giraldo A, Garcés-Restrepo MF, Galvis-Rizo CA (2015) Comportamiento en cautiverio de Rhinoclemmys annulata (Geoemydidae) y Chelonoidis carbonaria (Testudinidae). BSc thesis, Universidad del Valle, 27 pp.
- MECN (2010) Serie herpetofauna del Ecuador: El Chocó esmeraldeño. Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Quito, 232 pp.
- Medem F (1956) Noticia sobre el primer hallazgo de la tortuga Geoemyda annulata (Gray) en Colombia. Caldasia 34: 317–325.
- Garcés-Restrepo MF, Giraldo A, Carr JL, Brown LD (2013) Turtle ectoparasites from the Pacific coastal region of Colombia. Biota Neotropica 13: 74–79. DOI: 10.1590/S1676-06032013000300009
- Morales-Betancourt MA, Lasso CA, Páez VP, Bock BC (2005) Libro rojo de reptiles de Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, 257 pp.
- Reyes-Puig C (2015) Un método integrativo para evaluar el estado de conservación de las especies y su aplicación a los reptiles del Ecuador. MSc thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, 73 pp.
- Carr JL, Almendáriz A, Simmons JE, Nielsen MT (2014) Subsistence hunting for turtles in northwestern Ecuador. Acta Biológica Colombiana 19: 401–413. DOI: 10.15446/abc.v19n3.42886
- MAE (2012) Línea base de deforestación del Ecuador continental. Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador, Quito, 30 pp.
- Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996) Rhinoclemmys annulata. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T19501A8941417.en
- Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.
- Ernst C (1981) Rhinoclemmys Fitzinger Neotropical forest terrapins. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 274: 1–2.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Rhinoclemmys annulata in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used. Asterisk (*) indicates type locality.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Nariño | Finca Gavilán | ICN 7519 |
| Colombia | Nariño | Río Curay | Giraldo et al. 2012 |
| Colombia | Nariño | San Juán | Giraldo et al. 2012 |
| Colombia | Nariño | Tumaco | Giraldo et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Flor y Selva | This work |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | Las Naves | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Cañar | Cochancay | MVZ 77497 |
| Ecuador | Cañar | Manta Real | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Chimborazo | Bucay | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Chimborazo | Cascajal | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | El Jardín de los Sueños | Photo by Christophe Pellet |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Yakusinchi | Photo by Jane Sloan |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bilsa Biological Station | Ortega-Andrade et al. 2010 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Boca del Río Esmeraldas | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Cabeceras de Bilsa | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Cachabi | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Canandé Reserve | This work |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Cerro Mutiles | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Esmeraldas* | Gray 1860 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Estero El Ceibo | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Estero El Placer | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Hacienda Equinox | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Inés | Vázquez et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | La Boca | MHNG 2226.039 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | La Concordia | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Laguna de Cube | Luis Coloma, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Las Medianías | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Luis Vargas Torres | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Misión Santa María | Torres-Carvajal & Salazar-Valenzuela 2012 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Nueva Esperanza | Carr et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Partidero-Poza Honda | Vázquez et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Playa Grande | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Pulún | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Refugio de vida silvestre El Pambilar | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Ricaurte | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Río Tulubí | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San Antonio | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San José de Tagua | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Tundaloma Lodge | This work |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Chongón | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Corralito | ROM 42188 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Daular | Photo by George Varela |
| Ecuador | Guayas | ESPOL | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Imbabura | Paramba | Boulenger 1898 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Bosque Protector Pedro Franco Dávila | Cruz & Sánchez 2016 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Centro Científico Río Palenque | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | El Vergel | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Jauneche | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Puerto de Ilá | Orcés 1949 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Quevedo | Orcés 1949 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Quevedo, 8 km E of | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Bahía de Caráquez | Photo by Jose León |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Bosque Protector Cantagallo | ACBIO 2012 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Bosque Seco Lalo Loor | This work |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Paraíso | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Pital | DHMECN 12965 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Jama Coaque Reserve | Lynch et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | La Crespa | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Manta | USNM 96020 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Montecristi | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Parque Nacional Machalilla | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Reserva Ayampe | DHMECN 11955 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Reserva Biológica Tito Santos | Hamilton et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Río Ayampe | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Manabí | San Ramón, 6 km SW of | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Pedro Vicente Maldonado, 9 km W of | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Rancho Suamox | Photo by Rafael Ferro |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Atahualpa | ROM 26036 |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Atahualpa, 2 km E of | GBIF |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Comuna Las Balsas | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Dos Mangas | Photo by Rita Hidalgo |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Samai Lodge | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Shambala | iNaturalist |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Tributary of the dry Rio Engabao | ROM 26036 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Hacienda Espinosa | CAS 13297 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Joe Ramsey farm | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Reserva Forestal La Perla | Photo by Plácido Palacios |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | San Miguel de los Colorados | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |
| Ecuador | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | Santo Domingo de los Colorados | Carr & Almendáriz 1990 |