Pan's box turtle  (Cuora pani)

Classified as Critically Endangered (CR - A1d+2d) on the IUCN Red List 2002 (1), and listed on Appendix II of CITES (2).

Pan's box turtle is a freshwater Asian turtle. It was first described in 1984 (3), and has a brownish, fairly low-domed shell (carapace) (4). As with all members of this genus there are hinges at both ends of the plastron, which enable these turtles to fully seal themselves within their shell (5). This ability has given rise to the common name of 'box turtle'.

Found only in the Shaanxi and Yunnan Provinces of China (3).

Found in freshwater habitats (1).

Information is lacking on this Asian box turtle.

Many of the Asian turtles, including Pan's box turtle, are severely threatened by the over-collection of both adults and eggs. The popularity of turtle meat, once considered a luxury, increased dramatically in the 1990s, due in part to growing economies across Asia (6). This market has decimated native populations, which are unable to sustain the demand and, coupled with habitat loss, has pushed many species to the brink of extinction (6).

In recognition of the precarious state of the population of Pan's box turtle, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) classifies this species as Critically Endangered (1). International trade is restricted by the listing of this turtle of Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (2), but further research is desperately needed before more effective conservation measures can be put into place.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.