Species Spotlight: Painted Terrapin

Painted Terrapin Sexual Dimorphism Species Spotlight

Painted Terrapins exhibit sexual dimorphism, whereby differing forms or characteristics are expressed between the sexes. Differences in color between sexes is a type of sexual dimorphism known as sexual dichromatism.

First Artificial Breeding Attempt for World’s Rarest Turtle Unsuccessful

by Heather Lowe In early July, Gerald Kuchling, the chelonian reproductive biologist who led a team that attempted artificial insemination on the world’s last known female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), returned to the Suzhou Zoo in China to evaluate the eggs. Since the procedure was attempted, the female had laid two clutches of […]

Update 3 from Madagascar

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by Jordan Gray Ifaty, Madagascar – TSA Madagascar is getting the job done as Team Radiata #1 nears arrival at Village des tortues. This, from Aina Tiana Rak-“Six local volunteers from different institutions joined us yesterday at Village des tortues. They helped to soak, build shelter houses, and distribute water for the tortoises!”! Helping hands […]

A Labor of Love!

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by Jordan Gray We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.” For our “Team Radiata 3” wave in Madagascar, this phrase is more of a calling‚Äîfueled by passion and love. Under the hot Malagasy sun, this amazing group of responders has been continuing the relief effort for the […]

Construction Projects Wrapping Up in Myanmar

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Kalyar Platt, TSA’s new Turtle Conservation Coordinator in Myanmar has hit the ground running since starting in her position last month. Charged with overseeing the continued construction of multiple turtle facilities, she conducted site visits last week to evaluate the progress and make recommendations. The first was at the Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary, the most successful […]

World’s Rarest Turtle Discovered in Vietnam!

by¬†Jordan Gray¬† A photograph taken of the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle in Xuan Khanh Lake in May 2017. This photo however did not constitute clear evidence until a DNA sample could verify the species. Photo by: Nguyen Van Trong – ATP/IMC The Asian Turtle Program of Indo-Myanmar Conservation, Washington State University, and Turtle Survival Alliance […]

Painting a Picture of Progress in North Sumatra

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By Jordan Gray and Joko Guntoro Each December, following the annual commencement of monsoon season in northern Sumatra, Joko Guntoro leads teams from the Satucita Foundation and Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) as they comb provincial beaches of Aceh and North Sumatra in search of telltale footprints. The tracks are those of female Painted Terrapins […]