CR

McCord's Box Turtle

Cuora mccordi

Unknown

Overview

McCord's box turtle is a species of semi-aquatic turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is native to the southern Chinese province of Guangxi. The species was first described in 1988 from specimens obtained through the wildlife trade, which resulted in prolonged uncertainty regarding its natural distribution.

McCord's box turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the traditional medicine trade and food markets across Asia. The species has been heavily exploited since its scientific description in 1988, with wild populations rapidly depleted by commercial harvesting. Habitat destruction through agricultural expansion and urbanization in its native range has further reduced available nesting and foraging areas, while the species' naturally restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized extinctions.

Threat summary

Habitat

McCord's box turtle inhabits subtropical forests, woodland areas, and adjacent agricultural landscapes in southern China and northern Vietnam. The species prefers areas with dense vegetation cover, seasonal pools, and soft substrates suitable for burrowing and nesting.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is McCord's Box Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
McCord's Box Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. McCord's box turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the traditional medicine trade and food markets across Asia. The species has been heavily exploited since its scientific description in 1988, with wild populations rapidly depleted by commercial harvesting. Habitat destruction through agricultural expansion and urbanization in its native range has further reduced available nesting and foraging areas, while the species' naturally restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized extinctions.
Where does McCord's Box Turtle live?
McCord's Box Turtle occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to McCord's Box Turtle?
The main threats to McCord's Box Turtle are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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