Cyclemys gemeli Fritz et al., 2008

Hakim, Jonathan, Trageser, Scott J., Ghose, Animesh, Rashid, Sheikh Muhammad Abdur & Rahman, Shahriar Caesar, 2020, Amphibians and reptiles from Lawachara National Park in Bangladesh, Check List 16 (5), pp. 1239-1268 : 1250

Cyclemys gemeli Fritz et al., 2008

Material examined. BANGLADESH • 1 adult; Sylhet Division, Moulvibazar District, Kamalganj Upazila , LNP, sandy streambed near visitor center; 24°19.19′N, 091° 46.88′E; 13 May 2013; photo voucher ZRC ( IMG) 2.396a-b .

Identification. This turtle was identified to the Cyclemys genus based on a rounded shell with a keel down the middle of the carapace and serrated posterior marginals which flatten to the side ( Ahmed et al. 2009). Tur- tles observed had shell color from brown to washed-out gray and a uniform tan skin color with slight dark lines. The front of the head slopes upwards, coming to a point just above the nostrils and level with the flat top of the head. Cyclemys in Bangladesh are currently considered to belong to C. gemeli and thus we have assigned it to that taxa, but the genus is in flux and according to IUCN Bangladesh (2015) the status of this species in Bangladesh may change in the future.

Habitat. All occurrences were on sandy streambeds in mature forest.

Remarks. Our sightings were limited to one hatchling brought to project staff by local villagers in August 2012 and an adult found by AG on 13 May 2013. In July 2017, ST identified Cyclemys tracks on a streambed. Two more recent sightings of live specimens have been made by other researchers (Hassan Al-Razi pers. comm.).