The above animals were not placed in this position!

                    (above is a Cuora galbinifrons bourreti)             (above are Cuora galbinifrons picturata)

Cuora galbinifrons-  flower back turtle        Origin: Southeast Asia

This species is commonly known as the flower back or flower pot turtle and until late in 2000, was still relatively common in the pet trade in the United States.  CITES II status was denoted at that time.  This newfound protection is a mixed blessing as even though international trade is now closely monitored, the animals are still being eaten in large numbers from the Chinese food markets.  This on top of limited numbers being established in the United States, poor general health conditions in captive populations, and difficulty in reproducing has created a delicate situation.

Wild caught animals (especially of the picturata subspecies) tend to be extremely shy sealing up tightly into their boxed shells if disturbed.  This creates a large problem when one wishes to access the mouth in order to treat and tube feed or the tail in order to sex the animal.   This problem is compounded by the exposure to various organisms (in particular protozoans) in other species of Asian turtles that it is generally mixed with during shipment (a number of these animals actually come into the Asian food markets in the US and are then handpicked for the pet trade).  Being a terrestrial species, it is suspected that the galbinifrons exposure to the organisms that are commonly found in it's aquatic box turtle counterparts contribute greatly to their demise.  Problems can include anything from severe dehydration and anorexia leading to eventual starvation to an animal that appears to be doing ok which dies suddenly. 

A reptile vet check (and in my opinion treatment) is essential with this species.

Links to further information on C. galbinifrons:

Excellent source of subspecies, locality, and husbandry info: http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/galbinifrons.html

Husbandry info: http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/cgalb.html

Personal experiences: http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/julie.html

Pictures: http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/prague.html

Asian turtle article with galbinifrons reference:  http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/asia.html

Subspecies differences: http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/picturata.html

                                    http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/viet%26hainan.html

                                    http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/bourreti.html

Dutch article (in Dutch): http://www.igr.nl/users/nsv/layout/frames.htm?biblio/galbinifrons.htm