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New Chinese turtles: endangered or invalid? A reassessment of two species using mitochondrial DNA, allozyme electrophoresis and known-locality specimens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2001

James Ford Parham
Affiliation:
Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3140, USA University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
W. Brian Simison
Affiliation:
University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Kenneth H. Kozak
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
Chris R. Feldman
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, California 94132, USA Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Haitao Shi
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Hainan Normal University, Haikou City, Hainan Province 571158, People's Republic of China
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Abstract

Over the past 16 years, 13 new species of geoemydid turtles have been described from China. Ten of these new species are based on specimens purchased through the Hong Kong animal trade. Unfortunately, attempts by scientists to discover wild populations of some these newly described species have failed, raising questions about the legitimacy of the type localities and concerns over the validity of the species. Here the phylogenetic and taxonomic validity of two of these species is tested. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and allozyme genotypes of specimens matching the descriptions of Mauremys iversoni and Cuora serrata are compared to specimens of established species collected from known localities. The available evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that the specimens represent polyphyletic, intergeneric hybrids. The systematic status of all the new forms of turtles described from pet trade specimens are critical data for conservation efforts, particularly captive breeding.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2001 The Zoological Society of London

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