Indian softshell turtle

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 94 cm (37 in) 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.^[3]

Indian softshell turtle
Babai River, Nepal
Immature (the dark eyespots on the carapace are indistinct or absent in adults)[1]
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)[2][3]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Nilssonia
Species:	N. gangetica
Binomial name
Nilssonia gangetica (Cuvier, 1825)[2][3]
Synonyms[4]
Trionyx gangeticus Cuvier, 1825 Trionyx javanicus Gray, 1831 Testudo gotaghol Buchanan-Hamilton, 1831 (nomen nudum) Aspidonectes gangeticus Wagler, 1833 Gymnopus duvaucelii Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Tyrse gangetica Gray, 1844 Trionyx gangetiga Gray, 1873 (ex errore) Isola gangetica Baur, 1893 Aspideretes gangeticus Hay, 1904 Trionyx gangeticus mahanaddicus Annandale, 1912 Gymnopus duvaucelli Smith, 1931 Amyda gangetica Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 Trionix gangeticus Richard, 1999

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.^[5] It has an oval shaped shell, which is also fairly flat and smooth which means it is able to swim very fast.^[5]

These turtles are often kept in the temple ponds of Odisha where they are considered sacred.^[6]

The Indian softshell turtle is under threat as 30 to 40 tons of turtle meat is sold in markets every week.^[5] The shells are also used to make masks, which are sold to tourists.^[5] The turtles' habitat is also being changed by the building of dams, drainage works, and increasing levels of fishing and farming.^[5]