Kachuga kachuga
Encyclopedia
Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga) is a species
of turtle
found in South Asia
. It was the type species
of its former genus
Kachuga.
The carapace of the young is strongly keeled. The keels are tubercular posteriorly on the second and third vertebral shields. The posterior margin is strongly crenulated. The marginal serrature disappears in adolescent specimens and the vertebral keel, after being reduced to a series of low knobs, vanishes entirely in the full-grown, the carapace of which is very convex. The nuchal shield is small, trapezoidal and broadest posteriorly. The first vertebral is as broad or broader in front as behind. The second vertebral is longer than the third, with which it forms a straight transverse suture. The fourth is longest and forms a broad suture with the third. The second vertebral is broader than long in the young, and as long as broad in the adult. Plastron is angulate laterally in the young. The anterior and posterior lobes are rather narrow and shorter than the width of the bridge, truncate anteriorly and are openly notched posteriorly. The longest median suture is between the abdominals and the shortest is between the gulars, which equals about one half that between the humerals. The suture between gulars and humerals forms an obtuse angle, as does that between humerals and pectorals. The inguinal
is large and the axillary
is smaller.
The head is moderate size with an obtuse and moderately prominent snout
. The jaws have denticulated edges with the upper not notched mesially. Alveolar
surfaces are very broad, the median ridge of the upper jaw being somewhat nearer the outer than the inner margin. Choanae are behind the line of the posterior borders of the orbits
. The width of the lower jaw at the symphysis
equals the diameter of the orbit. The limbs have transversely enlarged, band-likescales which are colored brown above and yellowish below. The nape
has red longitudinal lines.
, NE India, Bangladesh
, primarily in deep flowing freshwater rivers with terrestrial nest sites in the watershed of the Ganges River
and probably NW Burma. Type locality: "India"; restricted by Smith 1931:131, to "N. India."
The National Chambal Sanctuary portion of The Chambal River
has received moderate protection since 1979 as India’s only protected riverine habitat. It is believed to be one of the last viable habitats for this species, though even here, B. kachuga are rare.
Recent annual nesting surveys indicate fewer than 400 adult females remaining in the wild.
for their meat and shells, accidental drowning in fishing gear, water pollution
, hydroelectric infrastructure projects, habitat destruction by sand mining
and egg predation
by jackals.
. A total of 132 eggs were laid through 2009 with an overall viability of 69%. 75 hatchlings were produced from these eggs, with 24 young turtles sent to Uttar Pradesh for release in 2007.
Since 2006, the Chambal River Sanctuary Program has implemented projects to protect wild nests, collect and hatch wild eggs in hatchery conditions, raise hatchlings to 1 kilograms (2.2 lb) at about 4 years age, conduct survival and migration studies of tagged and released hatchlings and conduct surveys over 400 kilometres (248.5 mi) of river to determine nesting locations, nesting density, nest depredation rates, and anthropogenic
pressures on the turtles.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
found in South Asia
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...
. It was the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of its former genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Kachuga.
Description
B. kachuga can weigh up to 25 kilograms (55.1 lb) pounds and have shells as long as 56 centimetres (22 in) 22 inches. Males reach only half the length of females. At the end of the rainy season, the heads and necks of male turtles develop a brilliant courtship coloration of red, yellow, white, and blue, with 6 distinctive bright red stripes on top of the head.The carapace of the young is strongly keeled. The keels are tubercular posteriorly on the second and third vertebral shields. The posterior margin is strongly crenulated. The marginal serrature disappears in adolescent specimens and the vertebral keel, after being reduced to a series of low knobs, vanishes entirely in the full-grown, the carapace of which is very convex. The nuchal shield is small, trapezoidal and broadest posteriorly. The first vertebral is as broad or broader in front as behind. The second vertebral is longer than the third, with which it forms a straight transverse suture. The fourth is longest and forms a broad suture with the third. The second vertebral is broader than long in the young, and as long as broad in the adult. Plastron is angulate laterally in the young. The anterior and posterior lobes are rather narrow and shorter than the width of the bridge, truncate anteriorly and are openly notched posteriorly. The longest median suture is between the abdominals and the shortest is between the gulars, which equals about one half that between the humerals. The suture between gulars and humerals forms an obtuse angle, as does that between humerals and pectorals. The inguinal
Inguinal
In human anatomy, the inguinal region refers to either the groin or the lower lateral regions of the abdomen. It may also refer to:* Conjoint tendon, previously known as the inguinal aponeurotic falx, a structure formed from the transversus abdominis insertion into the pecten pubis* Granuloma...
is large and the axillary
Axillary
Axillary means "related to the axilla "."Axillary" may refer to:* Axillary artery* Axillary vein* Axillary nerve* Axillary bud...
is smaller.
The head is moderate size with an obtuse and moderately prominent snout
Snout
The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw.-Terminology:The term "muzzle", used as a noun, can be ambiguous...
. The jaws have denticulated edges with the upper not notched mesially. Alveolar
Alveolar ridge
An alveolar ridge is one of the two jaw ridges either on the roof of the mouth between the upper teeth and the hard palate or on the bottom of the mouth behind the lower teeth. The alveolar ridges contain the sockets of the teeth....
surfaces are very broad, the median ridge of the upper jaw being somewhat nearer the outer than the inner margin. Choanae are behind the line of the posterior borders of the orbits
Orbit (anatomy)
In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents...
. The width of the lower jaw at the symphysis
Symphysis
A symphysis is a fibrocartilaginous fusion between two bones. It is a type of cartilaginous joint, specifically a secondary cartilaginous joint.1.A symphysis is an amphiarthrosis, a slightly movable joint.2.A growing together of parts or structures...
equals the diameter of the orbit. The limbs have transversely enlarged, band-likescales which are colored brown above and yellowish below. The nape
Nape
The nape is the back of the neck. In technical anatomical/medical terminology, the nape is referred to by the word nucha, which also gives the adjective corresponding to "nape" in English, "nuchal"....
has red longitudinal lines.
Distribution
This reptile was historically widespread in Central NepalNepal
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...
, NE India, 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...
, primarily in deep flowing freshwater rivers with terrestrial nest sites in the watershed of the Ganges River
Ganges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
and probably NW Burma. Type locality: "India"; restricted by Smith 1931:131, to "N. India."
The National Chambal Sanctuary portion of The Chambal River
Chambal River
The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, and forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system. The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning...
has received moderate protection since 1979 as India’s only protected riverine habitat. It is believed to be one of the last viable habitats for this species, though even here, B. kachuga are rare.
Recent annual nesting surveys indicate fewer than 400 adult females remaining in the wild.
Threats
The large Batagur turtles are probably the most threatened freshwater turtles in India. Their populations have now been drastically reduced due to poachingPoaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
for their meat and shells, accidental drowning in fishing gear, water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
, hydroelectric infrastructure projects, habitat destruction by sand mining
Sand mining
Sand mining is a practice that is becoming an environmental issue as the demand for sand increases in industry and construction. Sand is mined from beaches and inland dunes and dredged from ocean beds and river beds. It is often used in manufacturing as an abrasive, for example, and it is used to...
and egg predation
Predation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
by jackals.
Conservation
Since 2004, B. kachuga has reproduced in captivity at the Madras Crocodile Bank TrustMadras Crocodile Bank Trust
The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is a reptile zoo and herpetology research station, located south of the city of Chennai, in state of Tamil Nadu, India. The centre is both a registered trust and a recognized zoo under the Wildlife Act, 1972 and is India's leading...
. A total of 132 eggs were laid through 2009 with an overall viability of 69%. 75 hatchlings were produced from these eggs, with 24 young turtles sent to Uttar Pradesh for release in 2007.
Since 2006, the Chambal River Sanctuary Program has implemented projects to protect wild nests, collect and hatch wild eggs in hatchery conditions, raise hatchlings to 1 kilograms (2.2 lb) at about 4 years age, conduct survival and migration studies of tagged and released hatchlings and conduct surveys over 400 kilometres (248.5 mi) of river to determine nesting locations, nesting density, nest depredation rates, and anthropogenic
Anthropogenic
Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the environment includes impacts on biophysical environments, biodiversity and other resources. The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity. The term was first used in the technical sense by Russian...
pressures on the turtles.
Other references
- Moll, E.O. 1986 Survey of the freshwater turtles of India. The genus Kachuga. [2 parts] J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 83 (3): 538-552
- Gray, J. E. 1831 Illustrations of Indian Zoology: chiefly selected from the collection of Major General Hardwicke. Vol. 1, London (1830–1835)
- Gray, J. E. 1862 Notice of two new species of Batagur in the collection of the British Museum. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1862:264-265.
- Gray, J. E. 1863 Notice of two new species of Batagur in the collection of the British Museum. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (3) 12: 74-75
External links
- http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Kachuga_kachuga.jpg
- http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Kachuga_kachuga_female.jpg