Indian softshell turtle
(Nilssonia gangetica)
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum
: Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family : Trionychidae
Genus :
Nilssonia
Species : N. gangetica (Cuvier, 1825)
Common Names
Ganges softshell turtle
Conservation Status
IWPA : Schedule I
Cites : Appendix I
Geographical Distribution
Indian softshell turtles are found in the Indus, Ganges, Meghna, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, Narmada and Mahanandi river basins, along with most of their tributaries and intervening drainages. Their range extends across several countries, including Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In India, they are distributed in the states of Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal.
General Information
Indian softshell turtles breed from February to April. Females lay their eggs on sandy or gravelly banks of rivers or ponds, with clutch sizes ranging from 22 to 35 eggs. The incubation period varies significantly, lasting between 65 and 260 days. These turtles inhabit deep rivers, streams, canals, lakes and ponds, typically preferring areas with sandy or muddy bottoms. They thrive in turbid water and spend most of their time hidden under the sand. Indian softshell turtles are omnivorous, feeding on fish, amphibians, mollusks, insects, waterfowl, carrion and aquatic plants. They are also scavengers, primarily consuming animal matter, while supplementing their diet with aquatic vegetation.
Threats
- Habitat alteration and destruction due to construction of dams and barrages, pollution and sand mining.
- Poaching and illegal trading for traditional medicines.
- Flood plain drainage and expansion of agriculture.
- Commercial exploitation due to professional fishing and meat consumption.
- Reduction of fish stock, as a result of overfishing.
Aquatic Species / Turtles / Indian softshell turtle