Indian flapshell turtle
Encyclopedia
Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) is a fresh water species of turtle found in South Asia
. The “Flap-shelled” name stems from the presence of femoral flaps that are located on the plastron. These flaps of skin serve the purpose of covering the limbs when they retract into the shell. It is unclear what protection the flaps offer against predators. They are widespread and common in the South Asian provinces.
of Lissemys punctata viewed from above is broadly oval in adults but more circular in young, widest just anterior to hind limbs. The width of disc 77-86 per cent of its length; carapace moderately arched, shell height 35-40.5 per cent of carapace length; margin of carapace smooth, slightly flared posteriorly; marginal bones not united with pleurals; plastron large but mostly cartilaginous, its length 88-97.5 per cent of carapace length; pair of large flaps that can be closed over hind limbs and smaller flap over tail; seven plastral callosities; head large, its width 21.5-25 per cent of carapace width; proboscis short and stout; nasal septum without lateral ridge; edges of jaws smooth, alveolar surfaces expanded
and granular; claws large and heavy; penis thick, oval, with deep dorsal cleft and four pointed, soft papillae; tail very short in both sexes.
The carapace length of the Lissemys punctata has been known to range anywhere from 240-370mm in length.
. This subspecies is the most common aquatic turtle in India. Consequently, the Indian flap-shelled turtle was removed from the endangered species list in 1983 (48 FR 52740). This action however did not affect the turtle's status on Appendix I of CITES.
, India
(common in lakes and rivers), Sri Lanka
, Nepal
and Bangladesh
(Indus and Ganges drainages), Burma (Irrawaddy
and Salween rivers). Lissemys punctata has been introduced
to the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands
.
It is also found in the desert
ponds of Rajasthan
where hundreds are killed every year during the dry summers.
The race andersoni is found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
Type locality: "Des grandes Indes" (= continental India); restricted to "Pondicherry, Coromandel Coast, India" (11º 56'N; 79º 53'E, on the southeast coast of India) by Webb (1980).
The Indian flapshell turtle is known to be omnivorous. Its diet has been known to consist of: frogs, fishes, shrimps, snails, aquatic vegetation, plant leaves, flowers, fruits, grasses and seeds.
Lissemys punctata
lives in the shallow, quiet, often stagnant waters of rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, lakes and irrigation canals, and tanks. Waters with sand or mud bottoms are preferred.
Prefers to inhabit shallow, muddy ditches, lakes, marshes, ponds and irrigation canals. Habitats with muddy or sandy bottoms are preferred because of the turtle’s tendency to burrow.
In a study done in Bangladesh
it was found that the Lissemis punctata turtle plays an important role to reduce pollution in aquatic ecosystems by feeding on snails, insects and fragments of dead animals.
These turtles have been known to be very well adapted, both morphologically and behaviorally to drought conditions. The turtle utilizes mainly burrowing and moving from water hole to water hole in order to avoid desiccation
. The femoral flaps that cover the retracted legs serve to help the turtle survive dry conditions. During a time of drought, the turtles enter a time of estivation
in an attempt to survive the dry conditions. Although many turtles die during drought conditions, some turtles have been reported to survive up to 160 days.
The turtles become reproductively active at age 2 or 3. Courtship and mating behavior of these turtles is unique and was observed by P. Duda and K. Gupta in 1981. Courtship begins when the male begins stroking the female’s carapace
with his neck and limbs extended. When receptive, the female faces the male with her neck extended and they will begin bobbing their heads vertically 3 or 4 times. This behavior is repeated 5-8 more times. Mating then begins when the female settles to the bottom and is mounted by the male. Near the end of mating, the male releases his grip and rotates to face the opposite direction from her. They remain attached in this position for as long as 15 minutes. During this time, the female may drag the male about. The pair then separates and copulation ends.
Nesting times occur during many periods in the year depending on habitat and location. Swampy areas with soil and exposure to sunlight are common nesting sites among these turtles. Eggs are usually laid 2 to 3 times per year in clutches of 2-16. These eggs are buried in soil for protection.
The shell of this species is believed to be of medicinal value in both China and India. The shell is burnt and ground up with oil to produce a medicine in China that is used to treat certain types of skin diseases. In India, the shell is used to make a remedy that is believed to be a medicine for tuberculosis
.
In many South Asia provinces, freshwater turtles and their eggs are commonly used as a good source of food and protein. As a result, these turtles are often exploited as a source of profit. In Bangladesh and India, this is especially evident as the Indian Flap-shell turtle is larger and has more meat than other turtles in the area. The value of this meat along with the efforts in the conservation of this species has driven the price of meat higher and has led to an increase in the illegal international exploitation and killing of these animals.
Changes to the turtle's natural habitat by the construction of dams and barrages, cultivation along river banks and pollution are also major threats to the survival of this turtle.
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. The “Flap-shelled” name stems from the presence of femoral flaps that are located on the plastron. These flaps of skin serve the purpose of covering the limbs when they retract into the shell. It is unclear what protection the flaps offer against predators. They are widespread and common in the South Asian provinces.
Description
The carapaceCarapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
of Lissemys punctata viewed from above is broadly oval in adults but more circular in young, widest just anterior to hind limbs. The width of disc 77-86 per cent of its length; carapace moderately arched, shell height 35-40.5 per cent of carapace length; margin of carapace smooth, slightly flared posteriorly; marginal bones not united with pleurals; plastron large but mostly cartilaginous, its length 88-97.5 per cent of carapace length; pair of large flaps that can be closed over hind limbs and smaller flap over tail; seven plastral callosities; head large, its width 21.5-25 per cent of carapace width; proboscis short and stout; nasal septum without lateral ridge; edges of jaws smooth, alveolar surfaces expanded
and granular; claws large and heavy; penis thick, oval, with deep dorsal cleft and four pointed, soft papillae; tail very short in both sexes.
The carapace length of the Lissemys punctata has been known to range anywhere from 240-370mm in length.
Status
The Indian flap-shelled turtle was placed in Appendix I of CITES in 1975 at the request of Bangladesh. However, L. p. punctata was the taxa listed, not L. p. andersoni. Subsequent reviews of the literature and available data could find no evidence to support this endangered status. Some scientists now classify L. p. punctata and L. p. andersoni as a single subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. This subspecies is the most common aquatic turtle in India. Consequently, the Indian flap-shelled turtle was removed from the endangered species list in 1983 (48 FR 52740). This action however did not affect the turtle's status on Appendix I of CITES.
Distribution
The Indian Flap-shelled Turtle is found in PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(common in lakes and rivers), Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
(Indus and Ganges drainages), Burma (Irrawaddy
Irrawaddy
Irrawaddy may refer to:*Irrawaddy River, the main river of Burma*Irrawaddy Delta, a rice growing region of the country*Ayeyarwady Region, an administrative division of Burma*The Irrawaddy, a Burmese news publication based in Chiang Mai, Thailand...
and Salween rivers). Lissemys punctata has been introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
to the Andaman
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
and Nicobar Islands
Nicobar Islands
The Nicobar Islands are an archipelagic island chain in the eastern Indian Ocean...
.
It is also found in the desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
ponds of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
where hundreds are killed every year during the dry summers.
The race andersoni is found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
Type locality: "Des grandes Indes" (= continental India); restricted to "Pondicherry, Coromandel Coast, India" (11º 56'N; 79º 53'E, on the southeast coast of India) by Webb (1980).
Habitat and Ecology
- Food
The Indian flapshell turtle is known to be omnivorous. Its diet has been known to consist of: frogs, fishes, shrimps, snails, aquatic vegetation, plant leaves, flowers, fruits, grasses and seeds.
- Habitat and Environmental Impact
Lissemys punctata
Lissemys punctata
Indian flapshell turtle is a fresh water species of turtle found in South Asia. The “Flap-shelled” name stems from the presence of femoral flaps that are located on the plastron. These flaps of skin serve the purpose of covering the limbs when they retract into the shell. It is unclear what...
lives in the shallow, quiet, often stagnant waters of rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, lakes and irrigation canals, and tanks. Waters with sand or mud bottoms are preferred.
Prefers to inhabit shallow, muddy ditches, lakes, marshes, ponds and irrigation canals. Habitats with muddy or sandy bottoms are preferred because of the turtle’s tendency to burrow.
In a study done in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
it was found that the Lissemis punctata turtle plays an important role to reduce pollution in aquatic ecosystems by feeding on snails, insects and fragments of dead animals.
- Drought Survival
These turtles have been known to be very well adapted, both morphologically and behaviorally to drought conditions. The turtle utilizes mainly burrowing and moving from water hole to water hole in order to avoid desiccation
Desiccation
Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.-Science:...
. The femoral flaps that cover the retracted legs serve to help the turtle survive dry conditions. During a time of drought, the turtles enter a time of estivation
Estivation
Aestivation is a state of animal dormancy, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions...
in an attempt to survive the dry conditions. Although many turtles die during drought conditions, some turtles have been reported to survive up to 160 days.
Reproduction
- Courtship Routines
The turtles become reproductively active at age 2 or 3. Courtship and mating behavior of these turtles is unique and was observed by P. Duda and K. Gupta in 1981. Courtship begins when the male begins stroking the female’s carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
with his neck and limbs extended. When receptive, the female faces the male with her neck extended and they will begin bobbing their heads vertically 3 or 4 times. This behavior is repeated 5-8 more times. Mating then begins when the female settles to the bottom and is mounted by the male. Near the end of mating, the male releases his grip and rotates to face the opposite direction from her. They remain attached in this position for as long as 15 minutes. During this time, the female may drag the male about. The pair then separates and copulation ends.
- Nesting
Nesting times occur during many periods in the year depending on habitat and location. Swampy areas with soil and exposure to sunlight are common nesting sites among these turtles. Eggs are usually laid 2 to 3 times per year in clutches of 2-16. These eggs are buried in soil for protection.
Scientific Interest and Potential Value
- Medicinal Value
The shell of this species is believed to be of medicinal value in both China and India. The shell is burnt and ground up with oil to produce a medicine in China that is used to treat certain types of skin diseases. In India, the shell is used to make a remedy that is believed to be a medicine for tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
Specific Dangers/Threats to Species Survival
- Economic and Environmental Factors
In many South Asia provinces, freshwater turtles and their eggs are commonly used as a good source of food and protein. As a result, these turtles are often exploited as a source of profit. In Bangladesh and India, this is especially evident as the Indian Flap-shell turtle is larger and has more meat than other turtles in the area. The value of this meat along with the efforts in the conservation of this species has driven the price of meat higher and has led to an increase in the illegal international exploitation and killing of these animals.
Changes to the turtle's natural habitat by the construction of dams and barrages, cultivation along river banks and pollution are also major threats to the survival of this turtle.
Further reading
- Akbar, M.,Mushtaq-ul-Hassan, M. and u-Nisa, Z. 2006. Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in Punjab, Pakistan. CJES. Vol. 4, no. 4. 142-146.
- Biswas, S.;Bhowmik, H. K. 1984 Range of Lissemys punctata punctata from the foot-hills of Siwaliks Hamadryad 9 (2): 10
- Lacepède, B. G. E. 1788 Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupe des Ovipares et des Serpens. Vol.1. Imprimerie du Roi, Hôtel de Thou, Paris, xvii + 651 pp.
- Verma, Anil K. and D. N. Sahi. 1998 Status, range extension and ecological notes on Indo-Gangetic flapshell turtle, Lissemys punctata andersoni (Testudines: Trionychidae) in Jammu shiwaliks, J&K State. Cobra. 34 (Oct.-Dec.):6-9
- Webb, R.G. 1982 Taxonomic notes concerning the trionychid turtle Lissemys punctata (Lacepede) Amphibia-Reptilia (Wiesbaden) 3(2-3): 179-184.
External links
- http://zsienvis.nic.in/endb/end_reptilia/reptilia_data/lissemys_punctata.htm
- http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/bis/turtles.php?menuentry=soorten&id=222