On Testudo emys Schleg. & Müll. and its affinities

In 1840 ¹) Schlegel and Sal. Müller described in number 2 of the zoological part of » Verhandelingen over de natuurlijke geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Overzeesche Bezittingen” a new species of Testudo, which differed from the other species of this genus by its broad, slightly elevated shell, and by the extra-ordinary large scales, which cover the outer parts of the forefeet, the heel of the hind feet and the parts between the hind legs and the tail. In their description of this species, which they named Testudo emys, they mention the presence of 25 marginal shields, among which one nuchal shield, of a moderate size, the posterior part of which is broad and straight-lined. The two posterior marginals (the caudals) are strongly bent downwards. Moreover they mention the large abdominals with two pairs of shields in front and two pairs of posterior shields. The pectorals, which were overlooked in this enumeration of shields of the plastron, are described as a shield on each side of the plastron under the 3rd and 4th marginal, which shield in the shape of a scalene triangle is lying between the 2nd and 3rd pair of shields of the plastron, and runs down to the middle of the boundary line between these two shields. The specimens of this species were captured in Sumatra, 1600 till 1800 feet above the level of the sea, in the neighbourhood of the river Aneh, south of the Goenong Singalang; and afterwards in the mountains east of Padang. In 1840 the Leyden Museum possessed six specimens, of which four are still present in our collections.