Geographical and elevational distributions of the Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Geoemyda spengleri (Gmelin, 1789) (Testudines: Geoemydidae)

Knowledge of the spatial distributions of species is vital for protecting the planet's biodiversity. Turtles are currently among the most threatened vertebrate groups, resulting in the need for studies of turtle distributions. However, the distributions of many turtle species remain poorly known, particularly for those in Southeast and East Asia. Geoemyda spengleri is a small terrestrial turtle found in montane forests of China, Laos, and Vietnam. Here, we update the geographical distribution of this species based on reliable occurrence data and discuss some questionable records. We also present the elevational distribution of G. spengleri from localities across its geographical distribution. Compared to prior studies, this work increases the number of verified localities for G. spengleri (n = 51), but we also consider some previously accepted localities (e.g., central Vietnam) to be unreliable. The total estimated area for the geographical distribution of G. spengleri is 227,641 km(2). Our results also show that the species inhabits an elevation range of 530-1,548 m. A latitudinal gradient in elevation is apparent, with the tendency for more southerly occurrences to be located at higher elevations than more northerly occurrences. The geographical and elevational distributions of G. spengleri have implications for the conservation of this species, and additional research involving these topics is encouraged.