CITES AND U.S. Reptile Importers/Exporters and Pet Hobbyists-New Turtles are now Appendix I and II animals. – via Herp Digest

Forty-four species of Asian freshwater turtles and tortoises and three species of North American pond turtles received increased protections at CoP16. The following table outlines the changes to the CITES Appendices.  For Appendix-II species, you will need to ensure that you have obtained the proper CITES documentation to conduct international commercial trade. International trade for primarily commercial purposes is effectively prohibited for Appendix-I listed species.

These listings will have little effect on the average hobbyist or pet owner. If you do plan to travel internationally with your pet, please refer to the Service’s website on “personal pets.” However, as a pet owner and consumer you should make sure that you always purchase reptiles and amphibians from a reputable seller/breeder/dealer. Ask questions. Where did the animals come from? Were the animals legally acquired? If the juveniles are captive bred were the parents legally acquired? Be an informed consumer and help ensure that trade is legal and sustainable.

If you have any questions regarding the required CITES documentation for these species, please contact the Division of Management Authority at managementauthority@fws.gov.

APPENDIX I

Burmese star tortoise  (Geochelone platynota)

Big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum)

Asian Narrowheaded Softshell (Chitra chitra)

Burmese Narrowheaded Softshell (Chitra vandijki)

APPENDIX II

North American Turtle Species

Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)

Asian Turtle/Tortoise Species

Malayan Softshelled turtle (Dogania subplana)

Leith's Softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii)

Burmese Peacock Softshell turtle (Nilssonia formosa)

Wattlenecked Softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri)

Hunan Softshell turtle (Pelodiscus axenaria)

Northern Chinese Softshell turtle (Pelodiscus maackii)

Lesser Chinese Softshell turtle (Pelodiscus parviformis)

Swinhoe's Giant Softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei)

Japanese Pond turtle (Mauremys japonica)

Red-necked Pond turtle (Mauremys nigricans)

Indian Black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)

Indian Eyed turtle (Morenia petersi)

Beal’s Eyed turtle (Sacalia bealei)

Four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata)

Cochin Forest Cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica)

Western Blackbridged Leaf turtle (Cyclemys atripons)

Asian Leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentate)

Cyclemys shanensis

Southeast Asian Leaf turtle (Cyclemys oldhamii)

Eastern Blackbridged Leaf turtle (Cyclemys pulchristriata)

Ryukyu Blackbreasted Leaf turtle (Geoemyda japonica)

Black-breasted Hill turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)

Crowned River turtle (Hardella thurjii)