Spiny Terrapin
Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831)
Endangered (IUCN)Basic info
| Common names |
|
|---|---|
| Species name | Heosemys spinosa |
| Scientific name | Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831) |
| Taxonomy | Animalia Chordata Testudines Geoemydidae Heosemys spinosa |
Temperatures & Season
Day time temperatures
| Background summer | 25 - 30 °F |
|---|---|
| Background winter | 24 - 26 °F |
| Basking spot | 35 °F |
Night time temperatures
| Background | 24 - 26 °F |
|---|
Season
| Photoperiod | 12 hours |
|---|
Microhabitats
Microhabitats are specific small habitats that an organism inhabits within its broader environment. These can vary greatly depending on the species and can give us insights into the preferred living conditions of each reptile. Understanding these microhabitats can be key to providing the correct care for these animals in captivity.
- Riparian or wetlands
Ferguson Zones
Ferguson Zones are a way to classify the amount of UV light that reptiles are exposed to in their natural habitats. These zones help us understand and replicate their natural light conditions in captivity, promoting the health and wellbeing of the reptiles. Below, we detail the specific Ferguson Zones of the Chinese Water Dragon, along with recommendations for replicating these conditions
The Ferguson Zone in which the Spiny Terrapin has been placed has been chosen based upon an assessment of its typical basking behaviour and likely microhabitat in the wild.
Recommended lighting methods in captivity
Shade method
This method provides low-level 'background' UV at levels matching the Ferguson Zone Range, over a large portion of the enclosure. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Spiny Terrapin.
More in-depth information about Ferguson zones can be found here: https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150
Community collected distribution (379 occurrences)
Biomes
These are the biomes the Spiny Terrapin was found in. Click here to learn more about terrestrial ecoregions and biomes.
- Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
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References
- Baines, F.M., Chattell, J., Dale, J., Garrick, D., Gill, I., Goetz, M., Skelton, T. and Swatman, M. 2016. How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2016), 42–63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v4i1.150.
- Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831) in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org
- Gray, J. E. A synopsis of the species of Class Reptilia. In: Griffith, E & E. Pidgeon: The animal kingdom arranged in conformity with its organisation by the Baron Cuvier with additional descriptions of all the species hither named, and of many before noticed [Vol. 9].
- iNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org