Siebenrockiella leytensis

Scientific Name: Siebenrockiella leytensis Subspecies: None known Synonyms: Heosemys leytensis, Geoemyda leytensis Common Names: (E) Philippine Pond Turtle, Philippine Forest Turtle, Leyte Pond Turtle (F) Hosmyde de Leyte (S) Tortuga de Estanque Filipina

CITES: Appendix II since February 13, 2003

white to pale yellow stripe running from one ear over the back of the head to the other ear brown to dark brown head hooked upper jaw lighter colour on the sides and chin 3-4 enlarged scales on upper parts of front legs front legs are dark brown on the front and lighter behind some large scales on back of head reddish brown to black sometimes with lighter brown/red spots behind the eyes back and front edge of marginal scutes may be serrated may have small yellow spot on each side of the lower jaw

Swiss CITES Management Authority

back legs and tail are uniform light brown webbed toes on all feet

marginal scutes at front of turtle are larger than those at the back maximum carapace length: 210 mm

NOTE: Scientists know very little about this endangered turtle. Because it is so rare, there could be a high demand for this turtle in the pet trade. Your role is critical to stop illegal shipments of Siebenrockiella leytensis.

in adults the keel is faint or absent distinctive fan-shaped vertebral scutes

Carapace Plastron

juveniles: yellow adults: reddish to dark brown or black with some paler blotches plastron distinctly smaller than the carapace

deep notches at front and at back

Similar Species: Orlitia borneensis and Siebenrockiella crassicollis are the only other turtles with fan-shaped
triangular vertebral scutes, but neither has the yellow band over the head.

Glossary
Carapace: a hard outer covering that is composed of fused dorsal plates (scutes) Keel: a projecting ridge along the middle of the carapace Marginal scutes: the scutes composing the edge of the carapace Vertebral scutes: the row of scutes running down the middle of the back Plastron: the ventral part of the shell of a turtle Scute: a horny plate on the carapace of a turtle

Identification Sheet 034

Siebenrockiella leytensis
Countries Targeted
Countries of Origin: Philippines Countries of Import: None Countries of Export: None

References
Bonin, Frank, Bernard Devaux, and Alain Dupr. 1996. Toutes les Tortues du Monde. Lausanne: Delachaux et Niestl. 192. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). [online]. [cited 20 July 2005]. World Wide Web: <www.cites.org>. Diesmos, Arvin C., Genevieve V. A. Gee, Mae L. Diesmos, Rafe M. Brown, Peter J. Wismann, and Judeline C. Dimalibot. 2004. Rediscovery of the Philippine Forest Turtle, Heosemys leytensis (Chelonia; Bataguridae), from Palawan Island Philippines. Asiatic Herpetological Research Vol. 10: 22-27. Ernst, C. H., R. Barbour. 1989. Turtles of the World. Washington, D.C,: Smithsonian Institution Press. 158. Live Animal Regulations. 30th ed. Montral: International Air Transport Association. 2003. Schmidt, Fabian. 2005. Heosemys leytensis. CITES Identification Manual. Vol. 3. Jean-Pierre Biber and Peter Dollinger, Eds. Geneva: Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. We would like to send our most sincere thanks to Stephen Nash of the CITES Secretariat in Geneva, for helping us make this identification sheet possible. For more information on identification sheets, please visit www.ec.gc.ca/enforcement

Parts and Derivatives

Carapace and plastron, and fragments of these, are used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) [in the form of raw ingredients including carapace and plastron pieces, capsules/ pills, medicine balls, powders and liquids]. This turtle is also used for meat, and its carapace can be boiled to produce turtle jelly. Please be vigilant when encountering such items.

Inspection Considerations
As this species is listed under Appendix II, the shipment must be accompanied by a CITES export/re-export permit issued by the exporting/re-exporting country. Trade is allowed. While you proceed with the physical inspection of live turtle shipments, pay special attention to the country of origin of the turtles as described on permits and invoices. Specimens can be concealed in shipments of non-CITES species.

Transportation Considerations
Refer to the requirements governing the transport of live animals described in Live Animals Regulations (Container Requirement 43). See References.

Identification Sheet 034

Wildlife Enforcement Directorate