''Sacalia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

turtle Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Geoemydidae The Geoemydidae (formerly known as Bataguridae) are one of the largest and most diverse families in the order Testudines (turtles), with about 70 species. The family includes the Eurasian pond and river turtles and Neotropical wood turtles. Mem ...

(formerly called Bataguridae). The genus was erected by

John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (12 February 1800 – 7 March 1875) was a British zoology, zoologist. He was the elder brother of zoologist George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ...

in 1870. The Sacalia is native to Southereastern China, Laos, and Vietnam. It was declared an endangered species of turtle by the IUCN Red List due to its illegal trade. The sacalia has a carapace of dark-brown color that permits it to camouflage to its habitat. They are believed to select the area of a river that better matches their color.

Species

Two

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

are recognized. * ''Sacalia bealei'',

Beale's eyed turtle Beale's eyed turtle (''Sacalia bealei'') is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (formerly Bataguridae). The species is endemic to China. Description ''S. bealei'' has a yellowish-brown, smooth, rather depressed carapace spotted wi ...

or Beale's four-eyed turtle * ''Sacalia quadriocellata'',

four-eyed turtle The four-eyed turtle (''Sacalia quadriocellata'') is a reptile of the order Testudines. Its name refers to two bright yellow or green spots that occur on the back of its head that can look like another pair of eyes. Geographic range This species ...

Hybridization

What was described as a new species, ''Sacalia pseudocellata'',

Chinese false-eyed turtle The Chinese false-eyed turtle (''Cuora trifasciata × Sacalia quadriocellata'') is a hybrid species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It is a hybrid between a male golden coin turtle (''Cuora trifasciata'') and a female four-eyed turtle ...

, is actually a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

of a male ''

Cuora trifasciata __NOTOC__ The golden coin turtle or Chinese three-striped box turtle (''Cuora trifasciata'') is a species of turtle endemic to southern China. Distribution The species is distributed in China, but only on the island of Hainan (it is extirpated f ...

'' and a female ''

Sacalia quadriocellata The four-eyed turtle (''Sacalia quadriocellata'') is a reptile of the order Testudines. Its name refers to two bright yellow or green spots that occur on the back of its head that can look like another pair of eyes. Geographic range This species ...

.''Stuart, Bryan L. & Parham, James F. (2007)
"Recent hybrid origin of three rare Chinese turtles"
''Conservation Genetics''. 8 (1): 169-175.

Species

Hybridization

References

Further reading