Species information
Scientific name: Cuora flavomarginata evelynae
Japanese name: ヤエヤマセマルハコガメ
Chinese name: 八重山食蛇龜、琉球黃緣閉殼龜
English name: Yaeyama yellow-margined box turtle
Origin: Ishigaki, Iriomote
Ecology and description
Yaeyama yellow-margined box turtle, a subspecies of the Yellow-margined box turtle, is native to the Yaeyama Islands. Habitat destruction and poaching have led to a decline in its population. Since the 1970s, this species has also been found on Okinawajima, but alongside it is the nominate subspecies from China. It’s impossible to distinguish which subspecies (or even a hybrid of the two) the introduced population belongs to on Okinawajima. Consequently, they must be kept in captivity for life and cannot be released back into the wild.
※ Nationally designated natural monument, CITES Appendix II species
References：
- Distribution of the introduced Yaeyama yellow-margined box turtle (Japan Invasive Species database)
- Distribution of the introduced nominate subspecies (Japan Invasive Species database)
Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
