Asian Yellow Pond Turtle - Mauremys nigricans

This semiaquatic turtle lives in northern Vietnam, southern China and Taiwan and can reach up to 19.5 cm in length. Mauremys nigricans has two color phases, M.n. nigricans and M.n. mutica. Some authors suggest these should be divided into subspecies. The nigricans form is melanistic, with a dark brown to black carapace. The mutica form has a yellow-brown to brown carapace with dark seams. The mutica form is pictured below. This specimen died in captivity.

Carapace

Plastron