Ganges softshell turtle
Indian softshell turtles (Nilssonia gangetica) are one of the largest freshwater turtle species in the world. They have many characteristics pertaining to their aquatic lifestyle. Indian softshell turtles are often maintained in the temple ponds of Orissa where they are considered sacred.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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AestivationAestivation is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is chara...
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starts withThe Indian softshell turtle is identified based on the structure of the carapace and plastron. There are eight pairs of costal plates, the last well developed and in contact throughout on the median line; two neurals between the first pair of costals; plates coarsely pitted and vermiculate. Epiplastra narrowly separated from each other in front of the ontoplastron, which forms an obtuse or a right angle; plastral callosities are very large, hyo-hypoplastral, xiphiplastral, and, in old specimens, ento-plastral. The head of the turtle is moderate; snout (on the skull) is about as long as the diameter of the orbit; the interorbital region, in the adult, is considerably narrower than the nasal fossa; the postorbital arch is one-third to one-half the greatest diameter of the orbit; mandible with the inner edge strongly raised, forming a sharp ridge, which sends off a short perpendicular process at the symphysis; the diameter of the mandible at the symphysis does not exceed the diameter of the orbit. The Indian softshell turtle is olive above; the back of the young is vermiculated with fine black lines, but without ocelli; the head with a black longitudinal streak from between the eyes to the nape, intersected by two or three inverted-V-shaped black streaks; lower parts are yellowish.
These softshell turtles are found in the Indus, Ganges/Padma, Meghna, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Narmada and Mahanadi basins and most of their tributaries and intervening drainages and in the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India (Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal), Southern Nepal and Pakistan. They prefer to live in rivers and large canals, with soft muddy bottom and some currents. They can also be found in lakes and ponds.
Indian softshell turtles are adapted to the aquatic lifestyle and spend most of their time in the water. During sunny days they often come out of the water to bask on sand. During the dry season, Indian softshell turtles may burrow into the mud to aestivate in order to conserve energy and survive during the heat. These turtles usually spend their time singly but may gather in small groups when basking or in areas where food is abundant.
Indian softshell turtles are carnivores and scavengers. They mainly eat fish, amphibians, carrion, and other animal matter, and will supplement their diet with aquatic plants.
Indian softshell turtles breed from February to April. The female lays 8 to 35 eggs not too far from the water which are then incubated for about 70-90 days.
Indian softshell turtles are heavily collected for consumption and regional and international trade. In some areas of their native range, these turtles suffer from habitat loss and are persecuted by fishermen.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Indian softshell turtle total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
Indian softshell turtles play an important role in the ecosystem they live in. They help control populations of their prey and aquatic plants and in turn, serve as important prey for crocodiles or birds of prey.
