Heosemys grandis (Gray, 1860)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 77-78

Heosemys grandis (Gray, 1860) — Non-native; Established.

Geoemyda grandis Gray, 1860:218 . Syntypes (2): BMNH 1947.3 .4.7(formerly 1860.8.28.1)and 1947.3.4.55 (formerly 1860.8.28.2), by original designation; BMNH 1947.3 .4.56 (formerly 1861.6.1.7) may also be a syntype as it is listed as one in BMNH catalogue, according to Iverson (2022: 25). Type locality: “ Cambojia ” (= Cambodia).

Giant Asian Pond Turtle

( Figure 9D )

Singapore records.

Geoemyda grandis — Hanitsch, 1898: 9.—Ridley, 1899: 205.

Geodyma [sic] grandis —F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 18.

Heosemys grandis —B.L. Lim & Das, 1999: 72.— Auliya, 2007: 52–53.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 26.—Ng T.H. & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 126 (Seletar Airbase).—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—Fung & K.K.P. Lim, 2013: 120. (Upper Seletar Reservoir Park).—S.K. Tan & K.K.P. Lim, 2013b: 115 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—Khong & K.K.P. Lim, 2014: 205 (Springside Avenue).—I.S. Law, 2014c: 255 (Venus Drive [WNP]).—R. Subaraj, 2015: 52 (Project Western Boundary [= MBP]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 5 (Project Western Boundary [= MBP]).— Andersen et al., 2021: 3.—Mehta & K.K.P. Lim, 2021: 1 (Windsor Nature Park).

Hieremys annandalii —Chow & K.K.P. Lim, 2017: 21 (Venus Drive [WNP]).

Remarks. The native distribution of H. grandis covers Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Peninsular Malaysia (TTWG 2021). Early records of H. grandis in Singapore ( Hanitsch 1898: 19; Ridley 1899) were misidentified and later revealed to be Siebenrockiella crassicollis and Notochelys platynota by Flower (1899). The N. platynota specimen was from Seletar, but the S. crassicollis specimen was from Myanmar or Penang, Peninsular Malaysia ( Hanitsch 1912b). Lim (1984) commented that H. grandis is found in Singapore, but did not reference or mention any records. As follows, the first actual account of H. grandis in Singapore comes from an individual found at Seletar Airbase on 11 September 2005 (Ng & Lim 2010). The next record is from 26 September 2010 of an individual observed in NSSF (Tan & Lim 2013b), and another was seen at NSSF on 20 July 2011 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) demonstrating that H. grandis infiltrated CNR. Apparently, H. grandis has established breeding populations as evident by a hatchling observed on 5 May 2012 at USRP ( Fung & Lim 2013) and a juvenile caught at Springside Avenue on 17 July 2014 ( Khong & Lim 2014). Heosemys grandis has also been recorded at Mandai (R. Subaraj 2015; S. Subaraj 2015), Jurong Lake Gardens in January 2017 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.), Kranji Reservoir Park in April 2021 (A. Figueroa pers. obs.) ( Fig. 9D ), and multiple times at WNP on 13 December 2010, 7 August 2014, 18 December 2016, and 19 May 2021 ( Law 2014c; Chow & Lim 2017; Mehta & Lim 2021) revealing that it is widespread throughout Singapore. Given H. grandis’ widespread distribution in Singapore and the presence of young individuals, we declare it as established in Singapore.

Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon.

Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable.

Conservation priority. None, non-native species.

IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens.

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. Kranji Reservoir Park—Jurong Lake Gardens—Mandai Bird Park—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Seletar Airbase—Springside Avenue—Upper Seletar Reservoir Park—Windsor Nature Park.

Figures

FIGURE 9. A) Batagur borneoensis, B) Cuora amboinensis, C) Cyclemys dentata, D) Heosemys grandis, E) Heosemys spinosa, F) Notochelys platynota, G) Siebenrockiella crassicollis, and H) Amyda cartilaginea. Photographs by: Marjorie Chong [A], Law Ing Sind [B], Nick Baker [C, F], Joys Tan [D], Kelvin K.P. Lim [E], Marcus A.H. Chua [G], and Alex Figueroa [H].