Home > Indian History > Flora & Fauna > Amboina Box Turtle
Amboina Box Turtle
Amboina Box Turtle is an Indian Reptile and it is a species that belongs to the Asian Box Turtle family.

Share this Article:

Amboina Box Turtle, Indian ReptileAmboina Box Turtle is an Indian Reptile that bears a scientific name "Cuora amboinensis" or Southeast Asian Box Turtle and is a species of Asian Box Turtle.

Concentration of Amboina Box Turtle
Amboina Box Turtle is found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, eastern part of Indian states like West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, Aizwal, Manipur, Tripura, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Central and southern Vietnam, west Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia (Sulawesi, Ambon Island, Sumatra, Borneo, East Malaysia, Brunei, Nias, Enggano, Simeulue, Java, Sumbawa, Halmahera, Ceram, Seram, Buru, East Timor, Bali, Palawan and Maluku), and possibly China and Srilanka.

Structure of Amboina Box Turtle
Amboina Box Turtle have blackish-brown to olive brown coloured shells that are not as ornate as many other Box Turtles. All have a blackish olive head with three yellow stripes on the side.

Amboina Box Turtle, Indian ReptileSexes of Amboina Box Turtle
The male Amboina Box Turtle can be identified by the slightly concave shape to its plastron. There is no specific pattern to what the underbellies may look like, for either sex. The only true way of telling age is to guess by the texture of the shell, as growth rings form irregularly.

Category of Amboina Box Turtle
There are four subspecies of Amboina Box Turtle that are primarily differentiated by differences in the colour and shape of the carapace. Cuora Amboinensis Amboinensis found in the Ambon Island, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Buru, Seram, and East Timor and smaller islands in the region. The plastron has bigger black spots coloration, and possesses a bigger head. Well adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. Cuora amboinensis kamaroma, Malayan Box Turtle or domed Malayan Box Turtle, Mainland Indochina (South and Central Vietnam, southern Laos and Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and mainland Malaysia and Borneo are the main species of Amboina Box Turtle.

Carapace of Amboina Box Turtle
Amboina Box Turtle is highly domed carapace and smaller, more elongated and less spotting of black pigments in the plastron. It has smaller and shorter tail compared to other subspecies and do not have any flare in the marginal scutes. The average ratio of carapace length and height is 2.82. The average ratio dimensions of plastron spots: 2.14 (small and elongated).


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Flora & Fauna


Flora Of Uttarakhand
Uttaranchal falls under the west Himalayan Biogeography zone and it is well-known for floral diversity .
Flora and Fauna of Ladakh
Flora and Fauna is typical to t he kind of mountainous terrain which dominate the entire landscape of the region. Though some varieties of fauna are to be found here, the vegetation is very limited due to the dry and cold climate.
Flora and fauna in Tripura
Two-thirds of Tripura is forested where different species of trees, orchids, birds and wildlife are found. There are four sanctuaries in the state namely, Rowa wildlife sanctuary, Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary, Trishna wildlife sanctuary and Gumti wildlife sanctuary.
Flora and Fauna in Meghalaya
70 percent of Meghalaya is forested. Meghalayan forests are considered to be among the richest botanical habitats of Asia. These forests receive abundant rainfall and support a vast variety of floral and faunal biodiversity.
Flora and Fauna of Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is rich in flora and fauna. Flora includes thorn bush type of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher altitudes. Faunal species found here are leopard, cheetah and deer, wild sheep, bear, brown musk shrew, muskrat; varieties of snakes, bats, lizards etc.
Flora and fauna in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Economy of this region is primly based on agriculture. In Andaman island, paddy is the main food crop, while in Nicoabar island coconut and areca nut are the main crops. Some field crops like pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are also grown here.
Flora And Fauna Of Uttar Pradesh
Flora and Fauna of Uttar Pradesh is widely diversified and adds pride to the state.
Flora and fauna of Kerala
Flora and Fauna of Kerala are diverse. The favourable climate with heavy rainfall and good quality of the soils helps both the flora and fauna to thrive. Forest covers a large area in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
Flora and fauna of Karnataka
Flora and fauna of Karnataka are diverse and comprise of plants, animals, birds, reptiles, etc. Flora of Karnataka comprises of species like eucalyptus, teak and rosewood. Fauna of Karnataka comprises of species like leopard, gaur and wild pig.
Flora and Fauna of Rajasthan
The flora and fauna of Rajasthan supports all kinds of animal species and forests. The diverse flora and fauna of Rajasthan has made it a popular tourist destination.
Flora of Arunachal Pradesh
Flora of Arunachal Pradesh includes infinite species and is a subject of great interests for the botanists.
Flora and Fauna of Manipur
Flora and fauna of Manipur are known to be the assemblage of a huge variety including the endangered ones. The place is especially famed for orchid species which includes the most vibrant and beautiful ones of the world.