Vol 6 Num 1




Turtles of the Tiputini Biodiversity Station with remarks on the diversity and distribution of the Testudines from Ecuador

Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia

College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Casilla Postal 17-12-841 Quito, Ecuador
email: diegofrancisco_cisneros@yahoo.com

keywords
Reptilia, Testudines, diversity, habitat preferences, distribution, checklist, Amazonia, Ecuador

publication date: 01-01-2006
Abstract
Ten species of Testudines, from four different families: Chelidae, Kinosternidae, Podocnemididae, and Testudinidae, are reported from the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (Universidad San Francisco de Quito), northeastern Amazonian Ecuador; including the second report from Ecuador of Batrachemys  heliostemma . These ten species are sympatric but not completely syntopic, thus I comment on their diversity and habitat preferences patterns. The general distribution of some turtles from Amazonian Ecuador is discussed, providing additional records and distribution maps for Chelus  fimbriatus , Platemys  platycephala , Batrachemys  heliostemma , Batrachemys  raniceps , Mesoclemmys  gibba , Phrynops  geoffroanus , Kinosternon  scorpioides , and Geochelone  denticulata . The presence of Peltocephalus  dumerilianus  in Amazonian Ecuador is confirmed; based on re-examination of specimens previously reported by Dr. Gustavo Orcés in 1949. The total Ecuadorian richness of Testudines species includes 31 living taxa, and I provide an annotated list of the turtles and tortoises of mainland and insular Ecuador. Much information is still needed in order to understand the ecological relationships of the Testudines from Ecuador and future research should focus on long-term studies designed to answer several questions about their biology and ecology. Several threats are currently jeopardizing the long-term conservation of turtle populations in Ecuador, and we must increase our knowledge on these amazing animals in order to protect and preserve them.

how to quote this paper
Cisneros-Heredia, D.F. Turtles of the Tiputini Biodiversity Station with remarks on the diversity and distribution of the Testudines from Ecuador. Biota Neotrop.  Jan/Abr 2006, vol. 6, no. 1, http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v6n1/en/abstract?inventory+bn00906012006 . ISSN 1676-0611

Cited species
check for this species in other resources Batrachemys  heliostemma 
check for this species in other resources Batrachemys  raniceps 
check for this species in other resources Chelonia  mydas 
check for this species in other resources Chelus  fimbriatus 
check for this species in other resources Chelydra  serpentina 
check for this species in other resources Dermochelys  coriacea 
check for this species in other resources Eretmochelys  imbricata 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  abingdonii 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  becki 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  chathamensis 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  darwini 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  denticulata 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  ephippium 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  guntheri 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  hoodensis 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  microphyes 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  nigrita 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  vandenburghi 
check for this species in other resources Geochelone  vicina 
check for this species in other resources Kinosternon  leucostomum 
check for this species in other resources Kinosternon  scorpioides 
check for this species in other resources Lepidochelys  olivacea 
check for this species in other resources Mesoclemmys  gibba 
check for this species in other resources Peltocephalus  dumerilianus 
check for this species in other resources Phrynops  geoffroanus 
check for this species in other resources Platemys  platycephala 
check for this species in other resources Podocnemis  expansa 
check for this species in other resources Podocnemis  unifilis 
check for this species in other resources Rhinoclemmys  annulata 
check for this species in other resources Rhinoclemmys  melanosterna 
check for this species in other resources Rhinoclemmys  nasuta 



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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq
© BIOTA NEOTROPICA, 2006