http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/7350/hoan-kiem-turtle-is-a-new-species.html
VietNamNet Bridge – Dr. Tran Binh, Director of the Institute for Biological Technology, on April 18 told VTC News that the institute had finalized the DNA test of the legendary turtle in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake. They claim that the turtle is not a specimen of the massively endangered Rafetus swinhoei after all, but a new species they have named Rafetus Vietnamensis. However, as far as I was aware, the Hoan Kiem animal had already been named Rafetus leloii. I am confused!
However, there is a whole slew of Hoan Kiem stories here, including claims that there may be as many as three turtles in the lake, and an account of the lonesome death of the last known turtle.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears.
Hoan Kiem turtle moved to “sanatorium”
Many people see two Hoan Kiem turtles
Hoan Kiem turtle fished out for treatment
The death of the giant turtle in Ngoc Son Temple
The origin of Hanoi’s legendary turtle
I have a note about this on the Titanic Turtles of Tele article: the species is disputed and officially the new species name has been declared invalid as a junior synonym for the Singapore species of Raeftus. That information is included as the first note on the Turtle blog, with a referenced technical paper given as the source.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes, Dale D.