Morenia petersi
Encyclopedia
The Indian Eyed Turtle (Morenia petersi) is a species of turtle found in northeastern India
(as far west as Bihar
) and Bangladesh
. Named after German
herpetologist Wilhelm Peters (1815–1883).
is much more pointed and relatively longer. The suture between the pectorals is not shorter than the suture between the abdominals. The carapace
is black, each vertebral has a narrow yellowish mesial line. The last four vertebrals have a yellowish linear horseshoe
mark with both ends directed forward. All costals have an ocellus
placed rather low and formed by a narrow yellowish line, above which are some irregular looped lines of similar colour. The nuchal and each marginal have a narrow, vertical yellowish mesial streak. The plastron is yellow. There are three yellow streaks on each side of the head, the lower one extending from below the nostril to the angle of the mouth.
Males can achieve a shell length of up to 5 (about 12 cm) inches, females can achieve a shell length of up to 8 (about 20 cm) inches.
Type locality: Huzurapur (Jessore District), Furreedpore and Dacca, Bangladesh.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(as far west as Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
) and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Named after German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
herpetologist Wilhelm Peters (1815–1883).
Description
Morenia petersi is very closely allied to Morenia ocellata. The snoutSnout
The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw.-Terminology:The term "muzzle", used as a noun, can be ambiguous...
is much more pointed and relatively longer. The suture between the pectorals is not shorter than the suture between the abdominals. The carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
is black, each vertebral has a narrow yellowish mesial line. The last four vertebrals have a yellowish linear horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
mark with both ends directed forward. All costals have an ocellus
Ocellus
A simple eye refers to a type of eye design or optical arrangement that contains a single lens which detect light. A "simple eye" is so-called in distinction from a multi-lensed "compound eye", and is not necessarily at all simple in the usual sense of the word...
placed rather low and formed by a narrow yellowish line, above which are some irregular looped lines of similar colour. The nuchal and each marginal have a narrow, vertical yellowish mesial streak. The plastron is yellow. There are three yellow streaks on each side of the head, the lower one extending from below the nostril to the angle of the mouth.
Males can achieve a shell length of up to 5 (about 12 cm) inches, females can achieve a shell length of up to 8 (about 20 cm) inches.
Type locality: Huzurapur (Jessore District), Furreedpore and Dacca, Bangladesh.