Geoemyda japonica
Japanese name: リュウキュウヤマガメ
Chinese name: 琉球黑胸葉龜
English name: Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle
Origin: Northern Okinawajima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima
The Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle is closely related to the turtle species Geoemyda spengleri, which is distributed in China and Vietnam. It was once considered a subspecies of G. spengleri but was recognized as a distinct species in 1992.
This beautiful turtle is often a target for poachers. Although it was designated as a CITES-listed species in 2013 and commercial export is prohibited, 60 smuggled individuals were discovered in Hong Kong in 2018. The fact that they were not intercepted at Okinawa Airport highlighted the lax customs enforcement in Japan regarding wildlife smuggling.
In the wild, the population of the Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle has been rapidly declining in recent years due to habitat destruction, poisoning by pesticides, falling into roadside ditches, predation by feral cats and dogs, and roadkill.
