Bourret’s Box Turtle

Cuora bourreti

 

Conservation Status

CR
IUCN Red List

CR
VN Red Book

APP I
CITES / Decree

Highly domed carapace with effective camouflage. Features a unique plastral hinge allowing the turtle to close its shell completely for protection.

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Morphology

Carapace: Highly domed and robust. Coloration varies (black or chestnut brown), often with effective camouflage patterns (stripes, rays) for leaf litter.

Head: Highly variable coloration: black, red, orange, yellow, blue, pink, and/or white.

Unique Feature: Plastron features a hinge that allows the turtle to close its shell completely.

Size: Straight carapace length ranges from 15 to 20 cm.

Male vs Female: Males typically have a slightly concave plastron, longer claws, and a thicker, longer tail than females.


Ecology

A semi-terrestrial species that prefers terrestrial habitats, commonly sheltering under leaf litter or dense vegetation near streams in evergreen forests.

  • Breeding: Apr – Jun (1–3 eggs)
  • Diet: Earthworms, insects, fish

Threats

  • Severe habitat loss and fragmentation (logging, fires, encroachment).
  • Intensive exploitation for illegal wildlife trade.
  • Overharvesting is the primary driver of decline.

Distribution

Vietnam

Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, and Dak Lak provinces.

Global

Lao PDR

Legal Protections

Decree 64/2019/ND-CP; Decree 84/2021/ND-CP