Southeast Asia Box Turtle

The Amboina box turtle, also known as the Southeast Asian box turtle, is a captivating species native to various regions across Asia, including the Nicobar Islands, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and potentially China and Sri Lanka. The species name is derived from Ambon Island in Indonesia, which serves as its type locality.

These turtles are easily identifiable by their blackish-brown to olive-brown shells and distinctive blackish-olive heads adorned with three yellow stripes on each side. Male turtles possess a slightly concave plastron (the underside of the shell). There are four recognized subspecies of the Amboina box turtle, each exhibiting unique color and shell shape variations: the Wallacean box turtle, West Indonesian box turtle, Malayan box turtle, and Burmese box turtle.

Dietarily, Amboina box turtles are omnivorous. Younger turtles primarily consume more meat, while older individuals transition towards a more herbivorous diet. Despite their classification as endangered by the IUCN, they have shown an ability to adapt to certain environments, such as storm drains in Brunei. However, they face significant threats from hunting, particularly in regions where they are utilized in folk medicine.

Breeding Amboina box turtles in captivity can be challenging compared to other box turtle species. Their mating ritual involves the male mounting the female and nipping at her head to facilitate mating. For those considering keeping an Amboina box turtle as a pet, it is crucial to understand their specific requirements. They need warmer water temperatures and a semi-aquatic habitat, as they are more aquatic than other box turtles and prefer to spend most of their time in the water.