Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1985, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (02): 113-117.

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New materials of Cuora Pitheca and its generic history

Ye Xiangkui (Yeh Hsiang-k'uei)   

  • Online:1985-06-15 Published:1985-06-15

Abstract: In 1981, several specimens of Cuora from late Miocene1) of Lufeng, Yunnan unearthed together with fossil apes and other mammals were described by the present author as C. pitheca Yeh. Lately, several turtles were picked out again from Lufeng collection and handed to me for determination. With the exception of the fragments, these specimens represent at least six individuals of which only three are partly complete. Since the characters of these turtles resemble entirely to those of C. pitheca, they are identified as the same species just mentioned.
Cuora is a living genus of Emydidae now existing widely in East and South-enst Asia. Since the discovery of C. pitheca from Yunnan in 1981, the generic history was traced back from recent to late Miocene, but left a great blank between these two periods. Recently, by the record of C. miyatai from middle (?) Pleistocene of Japan, and by those of C. flavomarginata from late Pleistocene and Neolithic of Zhejiang, China, the historical blank has been filled approximately. It is now known as: late Miocene—middle (?) Pleistocene—late Pleistocene—Neolithic—recent.

Key words: Cuora; Emydidae