Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Vogt, R. C., Polisar, J. R., Moll, D., & Gonzalez-Porter, G. (2011). Dermatemys mawii gray 1847 – central american river turtle, tortuga blanca, hickatee. In A. G. J. Rhodin, P. P. van Dijk, R. A. Saumure, K. A. Buhlmann & J. B.Iverson (Eds.), Vol. 5IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.
Added by: Admin (29 Jan 2012 12:39:16 UTC) |
| Resource type: Book Article DOI: 10.3854/crm.5.058.mawii.v1.2011 BibTeX citation key: Vogt2011 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Dermatemydidae, Dermatemys, Dermatemys mawii, Habitat = habitat, Mittelamerika = Central America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: , B.Iverson, Buhlmann, van Dijk, Gonzalez-Porter, Moll, Polisar, Rhodin, Saumure, Vogt Publisher: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group |
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| URLs http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/ |
| Abstract |
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Summary. – The Central American River Turtle, Dermatemys mawii, the single remaining extant species of the formerly wide-spread primitive family Dermatemydidae, is restricted to the Atlantic drainages of southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. This large, highly aquatic, and totally herbivorous freshwater turtle is severely threatened throughout its range. There are older accounts citing specimens over 20 kg and carapace length of 60 cm, but recent field studies have found few individuals in excess of 14 kg in Mexico or above 11 kg in Guatemala. The turtle’s large size and highly palatable meat yield a high profit when the animals are sold at market. This has motivated hunters to overharvest many populations into extirpation. Although Dermatemys is consumed year-round, exploitation peaks during dry weather when low water levels facilitate capture. All forms of capture tend to select for larger size classes, thus not only reducing densities, but altering population structures, resulting in lower proportions of reproductively mature animals. The maturing cohort of smaller juveniles that remains is usually soon removed as well, resulting in unproductive populations in decline. Since Dermatemys is an herbivorous species and grows relatively fast, there is the possibility of raising this species in captivity or semicaptivity in polyculture systems with freshwater shrimp or ornamental fish. Even fast turtle growth rates would probably translate to a relatively slow cash return, suggesting that Dermatemys perhaps be a complementary species in a polyculture system. Where the capital and interest are sufficient, detailed and well-documented experiments testing the overall feasibility of these schemes are advised. However, captive propagation efforts should not distract critical funds and attention from the maintenance of wild stocks in their native habitats. Law enforcement is not the aswer to maintaining wild stocks, and habitat destruction by itself is not the problem—unless local people change their ways and stop eating or selling every Dermatemys they can, there is little chance of rehabilitating wild populations. Distribution. – Belize, Guatemala, Mexico. Distributed in the Atlantic drainages of southeastern Mexico from central Veracruz through Tabasco, Chiapas, and Campeche, as well as throughout Belize and the Atlantic drainages of Guatemala, reaching the vicinity of the Honduras border. Synonymy. – Dermatemys mawii Gray 1847, Emys mawii, Dermatemys mavei, Dermatemys mavii, Dermatemys mawi, Dermatemys mawei, Emys berardii Duméril and Bibron in Duméril and Duméril 1851, Ptychemys berardii, Clemmys berardii, Dermatemys berardii, Dermatemys abnormis Cope 1868, Chloremys abnormis, Dermatemys salvinii Gray 1870, Limnochelone micrura Werner 1901. Subspecies. – None. Status. – IUCN 2011 Red List: Critically Endangered (CR A2abd+4d) (assessed 2006); CITES: Appendix II.
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