Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Species in Vietnam

Big-headed Turtle

Platysternon megacephalum

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix I
– Group IB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, southern China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Fast-flowing streams and waterfalls
Major threats: Hunting and trade

Malayan Box Turtle

Cuora amboinensis kamaroma

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)

Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar (?), Philippines (?), Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Lowland wetlands, ponds, marshes and slow-flowing streams
Major threats: Hunting and international trade

Bourret’s Box Turtle

Cuora bourreti

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix I
– Group IB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: Laos, Vietnam
Habitat: Woodlands and evergreen forests at mid- to high elevations
Major threats: Habitat degradation, hunting and trade

Indochinese Box Turtle

Cuora galbinifrons

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IB Decree 84/2021/ND-CP (amendment and supplement of Decree 06/2019/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: Southern China, Laos, Vietnam
Habitat: Woodlands and evergreen forests at mid- to high elevations
Major threats: Habitat degradation, hunting and trade

Keeled Box Turtle

Cuora mouhotii

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand (?)
Habitat: Limestone forests, caves and mountains
Major threats: Habitat degradation, hunting and trade

Southern Vietnam Box Turtle

Cuora picturata

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix I
– Group IB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: Central Vietnam
Habitat: Woodlands and evergreen forests at mid- to high elevations
Major threats: Habitat degradation, hunting and trade

Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle

Cuora (trifasciata) cyclornata

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IB Decree 84/2021/ND-CP (amendment and supplement of Decree 06/2019/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: China, Laos, Vietnam
Habitat: Forest streams and marshes at low to mid-elevations
Major threats: Hunting and international trade

Western Black-bridged Leaf Turtle

Cyclemys atripons

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
Distribution: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Forest streams and marshes at low to mid-elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Southern Asian Leaf Turtle

Cyclemys oldhamii

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Forest streams and marshes at low to mid-elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Eastern Black-bridged Leaf Turtle

Cyclemys pulchristriata

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, Vietnam
Habitat: Forest streams and marshes at low to mid-elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Black-breasted Leaf Turtle

Geoemyda spengleri

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: China, Laos, Vietnam
Habitat: Montane forests at mid- to high elevations
Major threats: Hunting and international trade

Yellow-headed Temple Turtle

Heosemys annandalii

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (Peninsular), Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Slow-flowing rivers, ponds and wetlands
Major threats: Hunting and international trade

Giant Asian Pond Turtle

Heosemys grandis

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (Peninsular), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Rivers, streams, marshes, and wetlands at low to mid-elevations
Major threats: Hunting and international trade

Mekong Snail-eating Turtle

Malayemys subtrijuga

Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand (?), Vietnam
Habitat: Ponds, streams, swamps, marshes, and wetlands at low elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss and hunting

Vietnamese Pond Turtle

Mauremys annamensis

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: Central Vietnam
Habitat: Ponds, marshes, wetlands and slow-moving streams at low elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade for local consumption

Yellow Pond Turtle

Mauremys mutica

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam
Habitat: Ponds, marshes, wetlands and slow-moving streams
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle

Mauremys sinensis

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix III
Distribution: China, Taiwan, Vietnam
Habitat: Rivers, ponds and wetlands at low elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Four-eyed Turtle

Sacalia quadriocellata

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: China, Laos, Vietnam
Habitat: Woodland streams in montane forests
Major threats: Hunting and trade

Black Marsh Turtle

Siebenrockiella crassicollis

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Slow-flowing rivers, streams, ponds and marshes
Major threats: Hunting and trade

Elongated Tortoise

Indotestudo elongata

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Forests, grasslands and scrublands at low-mid elevations
Major threats: Hunting, local consumption, international trade and habitat loss

Impressed Tortoise

Manouria impressa

Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Hilly and montane forests at mid-to high elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Southeast Asian Softshell Turtle

Amyda ornata

Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Various lakes, streams and rivers
Major threats: Hunting, international trade and local consumption

Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle

Palea steindachneri

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IIB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
Distribution: China, Vietnam
Habitat: Streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes at low-mid elevations
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade

Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle

Pelochelys cantorii

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Habitat: Large rivers, lakes and coastal waters
Major threats: Hunting and local consumption

Spotted Softshell Turtle

Pelodiscus variegatus

Conservation status: Not Evaluated (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
None
Distribution: China, Vietnam
Habitat: Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands
Major threats: Hunting, local consumption and habitat loss

Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle

Rafetus swinhoei

Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2021)
Legal protections:
– CITES Appendix II
– Group IB Decree 06/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP)
– Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP)
Distribution:
Historic: large river system of China and Vietnam
Current: Suzhou Zoo, China and Dong Mo lake and Xuan Khanh lake, Hanoi, Vietnam
Habitat: Large rivers, lakes and wetlands
Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting and trade for local consumption