Zambezi flapshell turtle

The Zambezi flapshell turtle (Cycloderma frenatum) is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae). Within its family, C. frenatum belongs to the smaller, and exclusively Old World, subfamily Cyclanorbinae.

Zambezi flapshell turtle
Head of a Cycloderma frenatum
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Cycloderma
Species:	C. frenatum
Binomial name
Cycloderma frenatum W. Peters, 1854
Synonyms[3]
Cycloderma frenatum W. Peters, 1854 Cyclanosteus frenatus — Gray, 1856 Aspidochelys livingstonii Gray, 1860 Heptathyra frenata — Gray, 1864 Heptathyra livingstonii — Gray, 1864 Gymnopus subplanus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Amyda subplana — Fitzinger, 1843 Dogania subplana — Gray, 1844 Trionyx frenatus — Gray, 1856 Dogania guentheri Gray, 1862 Trionyx guentheri — Günther, 1864 Potamochelys frenatus — Gray, 1864

Geographic range

C. frenatum is found in southeastern Africa, in the countries of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe,^[4] and mainly in the Zambezi basin.

Conservation status

C. frenatum is becoming rare due to habitat loss.

Plastron with the peculiar hindleg flaps