Description: The Chinese pond turtle is a small to medium sized species most easily recognized by the three longitudinal keels on the carapace. The skin of the neck and head is grey/brown to black with irregular yellow stripes and spots on the side while the skin of the limbs is un-patterned. From a distance it may resemble both Ocadia sinensis and Trachemys scripta but the keeled shell should serve to differentiate it from those two species.
Biology: Chinemys reevesii is generally an inhabitant of slow moving or still water with a soft bottom but may also enter rivers. It omnivorous and feeds on a wide range of plant and animal matter (Ernst and Barbour 1989).
Distribution: Chinemys reevesii is native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. One of the authors saw several individuals for sale at the Liberation Day Carnival on Guam. When asked, the seller said that they were captured on Guam. In 2000 a youth claimed that an individual of this species in his possession was captured as it was crossing a road in Ordot, Guam (Leberer 2003). Recent surveys by one of the authors did not detect any specimens of this species. This species is common in the pet trade and it is possible that there is a population on Guam. Any sightings of this species should be reported to the local wildlife agency.
Ernst C. H. and R.W. Barbour. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institute. 313 pp.
Leberer, T. 2003. Records of Freshwater Turtles on Guam, Mariana Islands. Micronesica 35-36 pp 649-652.