Summary
The Black Wood Turtle, Rhinoclemmys funerea (family Geoemydidae), is a medium to large-sized (maximum straight-line carapace length to 37.5 cm for males and 35.5 cm for females), mainly herbivorous, semi-aquatic neotropical turtle, endemic to the Caribbean slope of Central America. It was originally described based on specimens collected in Limón, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It appears to be most closely related to R. melanosterna, R. diademata, and R. punctularia. It is one of the most aquatic and the largest species of the genus. Males and females exhibit modest morphological dimorphism, similar to other species of the genus, with males slightly larger than females, and males having a slightly concave plastron. The nesting season apparently extends from March to August, with clutch size ranging from 1–7 eggs. The eggs are proportionately very large, oblong, and brittle shelled, averaging 68 x 35 mm, and up to four clutches may be deposited annually. The incubation period ranges from 98 to 104 days. Although not at a high risk of extinction and still abundant in some areas, the species has probably declined locally in some areas in response to habitat degradation.
Distribution
Estimated historical indigenous distribution of Rhinoclemmys funerea in Central America (Honduras, Nicaragus, Costa Rica, and Panama). Yellow dots = museum and current and historical occurrence records of presumed native populations based on literature and online records (TTWG 2025); orange dots = presumed translocated or introduced non-native records; yellow star = type locality for Chelopus funereus Cope 1875. Colored shading = estimated historical indigenous range. Distribution is based on fine-scaled GIS-defined level 12 HUCs (hydrologic unit compartments) constructed around localities and then adding HUCs that connect point localities in the same watershed or physiographic region, and similar habitats and elevations as verified HUCs, based on TTWG (2025) and adjusted based on subsequent data from the authors. Map by Chelonian Research Foundation.
Synonymy
Chelopus funereus Cope 1875, Emys funerea, Geoemyda funerea, Geoemyda punctularia funerea, Rhinoclemmys funerea, Callopsis funerea, Geoemyda costaricensis Kanberg 1930
Subspecies
Conservation Status
Last Updated on: 11 October 2026
Legal Status
Last Updated on: 11 October 2026
Citation
Acuña-Mesén, R.A., Moll, D., and Acuña-Castillo, R. 2026. Rhinoclemmys funerea (Cope 1875). Black Wood Turtle, Black River Turtle, Jicotea Negra, Tortuga Negra, Tortuga Negra de Rio. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., van Dijk, P.P., Stanford, C.B., Goode, E.V., Buhlmann, K.A., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 5(20):141.1–10. doi: 10.3854/crm.5.141.funerea.v1.2026; www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/.