Wildlifeof China
Beale's Eyed Turtle
Tortoises & Freshwater Turtles
Photo: Lawrence Hylton · CC BY 4.0
Sacalia bealei
Basic stats
Diet
Crayfish and worms; accepts meat in captivity
Habitat
Mountain streams at all elevations, preferring heavily forested streams with many large stones
Range
Southern China (Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan) and northern Vietnam
Clutch size
Reported 6 eggs
Size
Carapace up to 18cm
Beale's eyed turtle is a moderate-sized turtle growing to a maximum straight-line carapace length of 18cm. The carapace is yellowish-brown, smooth and rather depressed, spotted with black, with an olive-green head; another form has a brown carapace. Two pairs of black-centred ocelli mark the back of the head (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is nocturnal and lives in mountain streams at all elevations, preferring heavily forested streams with many large stones for shelter. It feeds on crayfish and worms and accepts meat in captivity, and is reported to lay six eggs at a time. The Reptile Database gives its range as southern China and northern Vietnam (The Reptile Database; Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Beale's Eyed Turtle eat?
- Crayfish and worms; accepts meat in captivity
- What habitat does the Beale's Eyed Turtle live in?
- Mountain streams at all elevations, preferring heavily forested streams with many large stones
- Where is the Beale's Eyed Turtle found?
- Southern China (Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan) and northern Vietnam
- How many eggs does the Beale's Eyed Turtle lay?
- Reported 6 eggs
- How big is the Beale's Eyed Turtle?
- Carapace up to 18cm