Pangshura sylhetensis Jerdon 1870 – Assam Roofed Turtle

Abstract

The Assam roofed turtle, Pangshura sylhetensis (Family Geoemydidae), is a small freshwater turtle (straight carapace length [CL] only to 185 mm), with thirteen pairs of marginals and a strikingly spiked vertebral keel. The species is strongly sexually dimorphic, with female CL to 185 mm and males to 97 mm. It occurs primarily in running waters in the hills of northeastern India and northeastern and southeastern Bangladesh, where it appears rare and localized. Little information exists on the biology of this species. It apparently nests between late October and February, corresponding with the cool, dry season, and produces clutches of ca. 6[long dash]12 eggs, hatchlings appearing mainly between March and April, at the beginning of the Southeast Monsoons. The species is threatened by logging of primary forests that causes siltation, capture for food and the pet trade, and incidental capture in fishing gear. DISTRIBUTION. [long dash] Bangladesh, India. Localized distributed in northeast India and northeastern and southeastern Bangladesh. SYNONYMY. [long dash] Pangshura sylhetensis Jerdon 1870, Jerdonella sylhetensis, Kachuga sylhetensis, Kachuga (Pangshura) sylhetensis. SUBSPECIES. [long dash] None recognized. STATUS. [long dash] IUCN 2010 Red List: Endangered (B1+2c) (assessed 2000); CITES: Appendix II; Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule I.