2009年5月7日 星期四

琉球食蛇龜(琉球黃緣閉殼龜)再被提升為獨立種

文獻來源: Ernst, C.H., Laemmerzahl, A.F., and Lovich, J.E. 2008. A morphological review of the Cuora flavomarginata complex (Testudines: Geoemydidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 121:391-397.

Abstract
A reevaluation of the morphometric and color pattern differences within the Asiatic box turtle, Cuora flavomarginata sensu latu, was conducted in view of determining the taxonomic position of the three currently recognized subspecies: C. f. flavomarginata (Taiwan), C. f. sinensis (southern mainland China), and C. f. evelynae (Ryukyu Islands, Japan). Recent analyses indicate that the allopatric population of C. f. evelynae is the most divergent of the three taxa and shares little possibility for gene exchange with the other two populations. In contrast, the populations of C. f. flavomarginata and C. f. sinensis share many characters. We recommend the recognition of the Ryukyu population as a full species, C. evelynae.

圖片連結: Okinawa-kaeru.net (credit: Yugi Obara)