Pelochelys

"Giant softshell turtles" redirects here. For other uses, see Giant softshell turtle.

Pelochelys is a genus of very large softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. They are found from peninsular India northeast to southern China, and south to Southeast Asia and New Guinea.These turtles are also known as Giant softshell turtles.

Pelochelys
Pelochelys cantorii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Subfamily:	Trionychinae
Genus:	Pelochelys Gray, 1864[1][2]
Synonyms[2]
Pelochlys Zhao, 1997 (ex errore)

The species in this genus, while still being freshwater turtles as with all Trionychidae, are unique for having significant salt tolerance and regularly entering near-coastal marine habitats.^[3]

Taxonomy

These three species are recognized as being valid:^[4]

• Pelochelys bibroni (Owen, 1853) – southern New Guinea giant softshell turtle^[1]
• Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864 – Cantor's giant softshell turtle^[1]
• Pelochelys signifera Webb, 2002 – northern New Guinea giant softshell turtle^[1]

Nota bene: In the above list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pelochelys.

Cladogram as drawn by Walter G. Joyce, Ariel Revan, Tyler R. Lyson, and Igor G. Danilov (2009)^[5]

Trionychidae	Cyclanorbinae Cyclanorbis Cycloderma Lissemys †Plastomeninae Hutchemys Plastomenus Trionychinae Trionyx Chitra Pelochelys Apalone Rafetus Amyda Aspideretes Nilssonia Dogania Palea Pelodiscus