Black Wood Turtle

1 Overview

The Black Wood Turtle is not commonly kept as a pet in China. As the saying goes, rarity makes things precious, yet its price is not particularly high. Its carapace is black with clear patterning but no other colors, so its appearance does not leave a strong impression.

Chinese name: Black Wood Turtle

English name: Black Wood Turtle

Scientific name: Rhinoclemmys funerea

Kingdom: Animalia

Order: Testudines

Suborder: Cryptodira

Family: Geoemydidae

Subfamily: Geoemydinae

Genus: Rhinoclemmys

Species: Black Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys funerea)

Diet: Omnivorous, with a strong herbivorous tendency.

Habits: Lives in woods near rivers; terrestrial but also a strong swimmer.

Habitat type: Aquatic.

Distribution: From the Honduras–Nicaragua border south to the Panama Canal.

Distinguishing features: Black top of head, with some stripes on the sides and underside.

2 Physical Characteristics

The juvenile and adult Black Wood Turtle differ greatly in appearance. Juveniles have a light green carapace with unclear patterning, while adults have a black or dark brown carapace with distinct markings; the adult look is less cute than the juvenile.

1. Appearance

This freshwater turtle is dark brown with spots on the lower jaw. Adults have a high, keeled domed back and a serrated rear shell margin. The plastron is black with a yellow border, and the seams between scutes are also yellow. The head is black with yellow stripes over the tympanum on both sides.

The plastron can reach 32.5 cm in length. The carapace is relatively flattened, black or dark brown. The plastron is black, and the edge of each scute has white parts. The head, neck, and limbs have black stripes, and the lower jaw and throat are dotted with black. Hatchlings have a brown carapace that gradually turns black with age.

2. Care

The Black Wood Turtle is one of the few cold-tolerant tropical turtles. Below 10°C it retreats into burrows and enters a hibernation-like state until temperatures rise to 18°C, when it emerges to feed and move—requiring no sunlight or lighting. It can be kept in an aquatic turtle tank as a water turtle or on land as a box turtle, showing remarkable adaptability. However, males fight fiercely over females, biting each other’s exposed limbs, head, tail, and the shell above the tail, causing injuries. Therefore, keep at most one male.

3 Care & Husbandry

The Black Wood Turtle is uncommon in the Chinese pet market, first because its appearance does not inspire a strong desire to keep it, and second because wild populations are small, so few enter the market.

1. Behavior & Habitat

The Black Wood Turtle prefers rivers and marshes and is a water-loving species. In the wild it is omnivorous, eating plants, fruit, and occasionally insects and other arthropods. Females can lay up to four clutches per year, about three eggs each, so reproduction is prolific.

2. Keeping Numbers

The Black Wood Turtle may be kept as a pet and has been imported to Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. With wild populations declining, most hatchlings on the market are captive-bred. They are mostly kept in enclosures, but adults get fairly large; without sufficient space they are not suitable to keep. The setup should include a land area with items such as plastic turtle docks and driftwood.

4 Natural Habitat

Among the wood turtle family, some prefer water and some prefer swamps, so different species should not be mixed casually. The Black Wood Turtle likes water, so a higher water level can be provided.

1. Habitat Setup

The Black Wood Turtle loves basking, so a basking spot is needed, fitted with a UVB tube and a heat bulb above it. If the water is too cold, use a submersible heater. They are strong swimmers, so the water level should be fairly deep and the water quality kept excellent.

2. Water Depth

As an aquatic and skilled swimmer, a single adult needs at least a 30-gallon tank if male, or 75 gallons if female, to provide enough swimming room and help the filter maintain good water quality.

For additional turtles, add at least 20 gallons per extra male or 40 gallons per extra female. A standard aquarium or an ordinary plastic tub works; convenience is what matters.

5 Care Guidelines

The Black Wood Turtle is not picky about food. Hatchlings can be given protein-rich feed selectively to ensure healthy growth; adults prefer vegetables and fruit, which can be offered as desired.

1. Diet

In the wild the Black Wood Turtle leans herbivorous, eating aquatic plants, but in captivity it is a typical omnivore. Juveniles favor insects such as mealworms, crickets, and earthworms; adults become omnivorous and can eat more vegetables and fruit—tomatoes, carrots, apples, leafy greens—and clean meat can also be offered.

2. Feeding

Although small, the Black Wood Turtle is lively and has a big appetite. Pellets, vegetables, fruit, and insects are its staples, and it wolfs down anything edible without being fussy. It eats crickets and mealworms too. However, watch hygiene—especially after feeding animal protein, the water fouls easily and should be changed promptly.