Leith's softshell turtle
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Nilssonia leithii

Leith's softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii ) is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is found in peninsular Indian rivers including the Bhavani, Godavari, and Moyar Rivers. The type locality is Pune in India.

Animal name origin

The specific name, leithii, is in honor of Andrew H. Leith, a physician with the Bombay Sanitary Commission.

Appearance

Nilssonia leithii is intermediate between Nilssonia gangetica and Nilssonia hurum. It is like the former in the width of the interorbital apace, the comparatively short mandibular symphysis, and the markings of the head. It is like the latter in the longer and more pointed snout, the absence of a strong ridge on the inner alveolar surface of the mandible, and in the presence, in the young, of four or more dorsal ocelli, which are, however, smaller than in N. hurum.

Show More

Adults may attain a straight carapace length of 64 cm (25 in).

Show Less

Distribution

Geography

Leith's softshell turtle is endemic to peninsular India in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha

Habits and Lifestyle

Diet and Nutrition

Nilssonia leithii preys on mosquito larvae, crabs, freshwater molluscs, and fish. They also sometimes feed on small aquatic vegetation.

Mating Habits

The adult female N. leithii lays eggs in June. The eggs are spherical, and the diameter of each egg is 30 to 31 mm (1.2 in).

References

1. Leith's softshell turtle Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leith's_softshell_turtle
2. Leith's softshell turtle on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2174/97400447

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About