Geographical Distribution
The Indian roofed turtle is found in the river systems of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as in the Sub-Himalayan lowlands of Nepal. Its habitat includes the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus and Mahanadi River drainages across Pakistan, northern and peninsular India and Bangladesh.

General Information  
The nesting period of Indian roofed turtles has been reported between October and March. These turtles lay their eggs in clutches containing 3 to 14 elongated white eggs within a nest cavity dug in soil. The incubation period lasts between 70 and 144 days. Indian roofed turtles inhabit quiet streams, canals, oxbow lakes, ponds and man-made water tanks. They are also found in brackish coastal waters. They are diurnal, often basking in the early morning sun and are generally solitary creatures. Known for their shy nature, these turtles quickly dive into the water when they sense danger. For protection, they retract their head and legs into their hard shell. These turtles are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on aquatic plants such as water hyacinth and weeds, as well as animal prey like crabs and snails.

Threats
- Habitat loss due to water pollution, sand mining, large-scale development projects, such as dams, reservoirs, and water extraction.
- Overexploitation for pet trade.
- Illegal trade in traditional medicine.
- Heavy collection for food and egg predation.