The Indian Eyed Turtle

This is the seldom seen Indian Eyed Turtle. Note the dark smudges on the bridge plates. Morenia petersi, the Indian Eyed Turtle, a Geoemydid species, was once available to American hobbyists, but this seems no longer the case. Like its very closely related Burmese relative, M. ocellata, it is also known as the Swamp Turtle. It seems at home both in and out of the water. Adult size for females is about 8 inches. The smaller males are adult at 4 to 5 ½ inches. Diet is said to consist of both plants and carrion. This interesting but rather poorly known turtle has a black carapace with a light ocellus on each plate including the vertebrals, a yellow-orange plastron, and a black head with 3 yellow facial stripes on each cheek. The yellowish bridge plates bear darker smudges. Wild females nest about half way through the dry season. Each clutch consists of 5 to 9 eggs. Incubation seems to be about 70 days.. M. petersi is found in northeastern India and in Bangladesh.

Note the facial striping.

A plastral view of this uncommonly seen Asiatic species.