Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) this morning announced the hatchling of a Black Marsh Turtle or Siebenrockiella crassicollis at the centre.
Black Marsh Turtles are an endangered species endemic to Southeast Asia, facing threats including exploitation for national and international consumption, trade and habitat loss, the source added.
They are predominantly black with a few white spots on their face and affectionately known as the ‘Smiling Terrapin’ for their upward-curved mouth.
According to ACCB, this hatchling’s parents were rescued from illegal roadside sales, marking the beginning of its efforts to build a successful assurance population for this species.
Black Marsh turtle females lay only one, sometimes two, relatively large eggs at a time but can lay up to three or four eggs per season.
Black Marsh Turtles is one of the ten endangered turtles in Cambodia. The other nine include Batagur affinis, Heosemys annandalii, Pelochelys cantorii, Malayemys subtrijuga, Amyda cartilagin
ea, Indotestudo elongate, Manouria impressa, Heosemys grandis, and Chelonia mydas.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse