Leith's softshell turtle

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Leith's softshell turtle
Leith's Softshell Turtle.jpg

Leiths softshell turtle ( Nilssonia leithii )

Systematics
Order : Turtles (Testudinata)
Subordination : Halsberger tortoises (Cryptodira)
Family : Softshell turtles (Trionychidae)
Subfamily : Common softshell turtles (Trionychinae)
Genre : Indian softshell turtles ( Nilssonia )
Type : Leith's softshell turtle
Scientific name
Nilssonia leithii
( Gray , 1872)

The Leiths softshell turtle ( Nilssonia leithii , syn .: Aspideretes leithii ), also called the front Indian softshell turtle , is one of the Indian softshell turtles ( Nilssonia ). It is one of the rather large-sized softshell turtles, even if it does not reach the carapace length of the Ganges softshell turtle . However, their way of life has not yet been well researched.

Appearance

The Leiths softshell turtle has a carapace length of up to 63 centimeters. Their armor is gray to gray-olive and has fine yellow markings. This is particularly pronounced in young animals. The belly armor is cream-colored. The head is greenish. Males can be distinguished from females by their longer and thicker tails.

Distribution and way of life

Leiths softshell turtles are found from central India to the tip of the Indian subcontinent. They use rivers and stagnant waters and prefer those with a muddy bottom. Their diet has not yet been fully investigated. Snails and fish were found in the stomach of an examined turtle. It is believed that it also eats crabs and mollusks. According to the current state of knowledge, she lays up to two clutches a year.

proof

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Das 2001 , p. 83.

literature

  • Indraneil Das: The turtles of the Indian subcontinent , Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main 2001, ISBN 3-930612-35-6 .

Web links

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