Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-wxvwp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-14T11:07:42.622Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Range contractions in the Critically Endangered Seychelles terrapins (Pelusios spp.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

J. Gerlach and
L. Canning
L. Canning
Affiliation:
133 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge CB1 7BX, UK. E-mail: jstgerlach@aol.com
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

The status of the Seychelles endemic terrapins is reviewed based on field-surveys. Pelusios castanoides intergularis and P. subniger parietalis are confined to a small number of marshes and rivers. All the sites occupied are limited in area (<4.5 ha) and under threat from drainage, predation and invasion by alien water plants. The smallest populations are unlikely to be viable in the long-term. Both species can be categorized as Critically Endangered using the IUCN Red List categories, with highly restricted ranges (2.89 and 6.02 ha for P. castanoides and P. subniger, respectively) that have decreased by over 50 per cent in recent years. Conservation of these species requires both the protection of wetland habitats and the establishment of new populations in protected areas. A captive breeding programme has been established with the aim of reintroducing juveniles into secure reserves. The endemic species P. seychellensis may be extinct.

Keywords

MarshPelusiosriverSeychellesterrapin

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , October 2001, pp. 313 - 321
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 2001

References

Boulenger, G.A. (1889) Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians and Crocodiles in the Brisih Museum (Natural History), London. Trustees of the British Museum, London.Google Scholar
Bour, R. (1983) Trois populations endémiques du genre Pelusios (Reptilia, Chelonii, Pelomedusidae) aux iles Seychelles; relations avec les especes africaines et malgaches. Bulletin du Museum nationale d'Histoire naturelle, Paris. Series 4, 5, A, 1, 343–382.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bour, R. (1984) Taxonomy, history and geography of Seychelles land tortoises and fresh-water turtles. In The Biogeography and Ecology of the Seychelles Islands (ed. Stoddard, D. R.), pp. 281–307. Dr W. Junk, The Hague.Google Scholar
Cagle, F.R. (1939) A system of marking turtles for future identification. Copeia, 1939, 170–173.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerlach, J. (ed.) (1997a) Seychelles Red Data Book 1997. Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles, Seychelles.Google Scholar
Gerlach, J. (1997b) Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) - a new invader. Phelsuma, 5, 75–76.Google Scholar
Gerlach, J. (2000) Current status of Seychelles terrapins. Tortoise and Turtle Newsletter, 2, 11.Google Scholar
Gerlach, J. & Canning, K.L. (1996) The rediscovery of Pelusios seychellensis. Phelsuma, 4, 68–69.Google Scholar
Hilton-Taylor, C. (Compiler) (2000) 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Honegger, R.E. (1966) Beobachtungen an der Herpetofauna der Seychellen. Salamandra, 2, 21–36.Google Scholar
Legler, J.M. (1960) A simple and inexpensive device for trapping aquatic turtles. Utah Academy of Sciences, Proceedings, 37, 63–66.Google Scholar
Peters, W.C.H. (1877) Sammlung des Hrn. Prof. Dr. K. Mobius auf den Maskarenen und Seychellen. Mitarbeitragen das Academie Wissenschaflich, Berlin, 16, 455–457.Google Scholar
Siebenrock, F. (1906) Schildkroten von Ostafrika und Madagascar. In Reise in Ostafrika in Denjjahren 1903–1905 (ed. Voeltzkoe, A.), pp. 1—40. Stuttgart, Germany.Google Scholar
Swingland, I.R. & Klemens, M.W. (eds) (1989) The Conservation Biology of Tortoises. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Taylor, J.D., Braithwaite, C.J.R., Peake, J.F. & Arnold, E.N. (1979) Terrestrial faunas and habitats of Aldabra during the late Pleistocene. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, B, 286, 47–66.Google Scholar