| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Extinct
ver 2.3
|
| Year Assessed: |
2000 |
| Assessor/s |
Asian Turtle Trade Working Group |
| Evaluator/s: |
Buhlmann, K., Rhodin, A. & van Dijk, P.P. (Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Red List Authority) |
Justification:
Cuora yunnanensis has not been recorded since 1906 despite intensive specific searches and the massive general market trade (recent market records almost certainly derive from misidentification). One of two known sites of past occurrence has disappeared under expanding urbanization of Kunming.
During 2004 several photographs of what was alleged to be a live C. yunnanensis appeared on several internet sites. An alleged living specimen was also examined by Zhou and Zhao in China and they interpreted its identification as C. yunnanensis and published photographs and a description which appeared to confirm the re-discovery of C. yunnanensis (Zhou and Zhao 2004). Though only a single specimen was said to have been found, its actual provenance was unknown (Zhou and Zhao state it was purchased in a market in Kunming, Yunnan).
The IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Red List Authority along with other specialists have reviewed the status of the species extensively and have come to the conclusion that a defensible re-assessment cannot be completed until such time as genetic verification of the identity of the rediscovered specimen becomes available. Hence C. yunnanensis remains listed as Extinct until such time as conclusive evidence supports its resurrection.
|
| History: |
| 1996 |
– |
Data Deficient
|
| 1994 |
– |
Insufficiently Known
(IUCN)
|
| 1990 |
– |
Insufficiently Known
(IUCN 1990)
|
| 1988 |
– |
Insufficiently Known
|
|
