Mccord's Box Turtle

A small, highly domed box turtle typically measuring 5.5–8 inches (14–20 cm) in carapace length. Carapace is elongated and strongly arched with a pronounced keel running along the midline, creating a distinctive peaked or helmet-like profile. Dorsal coloration of the carapace is dark brown to nearly black, often with radiating light yellow or golden streaks emanating from the center of each scute, creating a spoke-like or sunburst pattern. The shell is relatively smooth with well-defined scute boundaries. Plastron is typically dark brown or black with lighter yellow coloration along the seams and margins. The head is dark brown to black with bright yellow to orange markings on the sides of the head and around the eyes, including a distinctive yellow or orange streak behind each eye. Neck and limbs are dark brown with yellow markings. Skin is relatively rough. This species is fully aquatic and exhibits webbed feet, distinguishing it from terrestrial Asian box turtles. Ventral surface of limbs and neck show yellow or orange coloration. Inhabits clean, fast-flowing streams and rocky pools in mountainous forests and limestone karst regions. Diet consists primarily of aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and aquatic vegetation.

Similar species: Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii) lacks the prominent radiating streaks on the carapace and typically shows less contrasting head markings; Vietnamese Box Turtle (Cuora picturata) has a more flattened carapace without a strong central keel and exhibits different head patterning with dark blotches rather than bright streaks; Asian Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) has a soft, leathery carapace entirely unlike the rigid bony shell of Cuora species.