Among the freshwater turtles recorded in Venezuela, 2 of the most enigmatic species for their scarcity and misleading distributional information are Mesoclemmys raniceps and Mesoclemmys nasuta. Based on the literature, only 3 records pertaining to these 2 species could confirm that they occur in Venezuela; however, a detailed study of the evidence demonstrates that the type of Hydraspis maculata (a synonym of M. raniceps), was not specifically collected in Venezuela and the other 2 records were an adult female of Mesoclemmys zuliae and a juvenile Mesoclemmys heliostemma. Our conclusion is that no records of M. nasuta or M. raniceps are known from Venezuela.
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1 June 2015
The Presence of Mesoclemmys raniceps and Mesoclemmys nasuta in Venezuela and Comments on the Type Locality of Hydraspis maculata (Chelidae)
Gilson A. Rivas,
Tito R. Barros,
Flavio de Barros Molina,
Pedro Trebbau,
Peter C.H. Pritchard
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Chelonian Conservation and Biology
Vol. 14 • No. 1
June 2015
Vol. 14 • No. 1
June 2015