Template:Speciesbox The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), or Ganges softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle. It lives in rivers such as the Ganges and Mahanadi in India and Bangladesh. Its shell can be up to Template:Convert in length.[1] It feeds mostly on fish, amphibians, carrion and other animal matter, but also eats aquatic plants.[1] The turtle is listed as a vulnerable species.[2]
The turtle has a long neck and a long nose, which means it is able to easily keep the tip of the nose out of the water to breathe.[3] It has an oval shaped shell, which is also fairly flat and smooth which means it is able to swim very fast.[3]
These turtles are often kept in the temple ponds of Odisha where they are considered sacred.[4]
The Indian softshell turtle is under threat as 30 to 40 tons of turtle meat is sold in markets every week.[3] The shells are also used to make masks, which are sold to tourists.[3] The turtles' habitat is also being changed by the building of dams, drainage works, and increasing levels of fishing and farming.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ernst, C.H.; Altenburg, R.G.M.; and Barbour, R.W. (1997). Aspideretes gangeticus Template:Webarchive, Turtles of the World. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedredlist - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Nilssonia gangetica | ARKive: Ganges soft-shelled turtle videos, photos and facts - Nilssonia gangetica | ARKive Template:Webarchive, accessdate: December 21, 2015
- ↑ Relics of the worship of mud-turtles (Trionychidae) in India and Burma. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal({Template:Year).