Identifying Heosemys grandis...

[a forum member]

Are there any sure fire ways for identifying Heosemys grandis? I recently purchased a turtle at a local pet store that was simply listed as a “Malaysian Leaf Turtle” which looks very similar to some of the smaller Heosemys grandis individuals I’ve seen pictures of. It also looks similar to some pictures of Cyclemys dentate I have seen. The individual that I have now is about 6” long and has very orangish-red markings on both it’s carapace and it’s head, the markings on it’s carapace radiate out on each scute and the plastron is yellow and the radiating markings are very light on the plastron (now that I’m a member I’ll have to get out the digital camera and post some pictures). This turtle also has the pointy rear marginal scutes typical of both Heosemys grandis and Cyclemys dentate and several other species. The rest of the carapace is very dark (almost black) as are the legs and head (except for the orangish markings). Also does anybody have some guidelines for a good setup for these guys. Right now I’ve got him (I’ve had some other species before and I’m pretty sure this one is a him) in a 20 gallon long aquarium more set up like you’d set up for red-eared sliders, but it seems like these guys could use a larger land area.

(rmayes100)

[Peter Paul]

Dear All,

Sure-fire way to separate a small grandis from a Cyclemys is to look at the anal scutes (the last pair on the plastron. If the seam between the anal and femoral scutes is straight across or angles slightly forward (and thus the anal scutes are small) it is a Heosemys (grandis, spinosa or depressa, does not work for ALL Heosemys species). If the seam curves far forwards so that the anal scutes are large it pretty likely is a Cyclemys.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Peter Paul