Asian giant softshell turtle

Asian giant softshell turtle

Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)^[1]^[2]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)^[3]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Pelochelys
Species:	P. cantorii
Binomial name
*Pelochelys cantorii* Gray, 1864^[1]^[2]
Synonyms^[4]
Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864 Pelochelys cumingii Gray, 1864 Pelochelys cantoris Boulenger, 1889 Pelochelys poljakowii Strauch, 1890 Pelochelys cummingii M.A. Smith, 1931 (ex errore) Pelochelys cantori Pritchard, 1967 (ex errore)

The Asian giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii),^[1]^[2] also known commonly as Cantor's giant softshell turtle^[2] and the frog-faced softshell turtle, is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia. The species is critically endangered and in the 20th century has disappeared from much of its former range.

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Taxonomy

P. cantorii is not found in New Guinea, while the two other members of the genus Pelochelys, P. bibroni and P. signifera are both restricted to New Guinea.^[2] P. cantorii is relatively unstudied, and the current species may actually be composed of several taxa.^[5] One study from 1995^[6] showed that what was once thought to be P. cantorii in New Guinea was actually P. bibroni, and the earlier studies^[7]^[8] of P. cantorii only described populations farther to the west.

Description

The Asian giant softshell turtle has a broad head, and small eyes close to the tip of its snout. The carapace is smooth and olive-colored. Juveniles may have dark-spotted carapaces and heads, with yellow around the carapace.^[5]

Despite reports that it can grow up to 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) in length and is the world's largest extant freshwater turtle, this maximum size and title is murky at best.^[9]^[10] Apparently the largest specimen carapace length, 129 cm (51 in), known is considered suspect and the heaviest specimen known (weighing approximately 250 kg (550 lb) was actually a misidentified Yangtze giant softshell turtle.^[11]^[12] A more realistic range of carapace length for this species is reportedly 70 to 100 cm (28 to 39 in) and it is one of about a half-dozen giant softshell turtles from three genera that reach exceptionally large sizes, i.e. in excess of 100 kg (220 lb) in mass.^[13]

Behavior and reproduction

P. cantorii is an ambush predator and primarily carnivorous, feeding on crustaceans, mollusks and fish (although some aquatic plants may also be eaten).^[5] The turtle spends 95% of its life buried and motionless, with only its eyes and mouth protruding from the sand. It surfaces only twice a day to take a breath, and lays 20–28 eggs sized around 3.0 to 3.6 centimetres (1.2 to 1.4 in) in diameter in February or March on riverbanks.^[5]^[10]^[14]

Morphological variation

Morphological differences in neural bone count have been noted between specimens of P. cantori found in the Philippines and specimens found in mainland Asia.^[15]

Etymology

The specific name, cantorii, is in honor of Danish zoologist Theodore Edward Cantor.^[16]

Geographic range and habitat

The species P. cantorii is primarily found in inland, slow-moving, freshwater rivers and streams. Some evidence indicates that its range extends to coastal areas, as well.^[5] It occurs in eastern and southern India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, eastern and southern China, the Philippines (Luzon and Mindanao), and Indonesia (Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra).^[2]

Conservation

The Asian giant softshell turtle is classified as a Critically Endangered by the IUCN and has been forced out through habitat destruction, disappearing from much of its range.^[17] Prior to 2007, it was last seen in Cambodia in 2003. A 2007 survey of one area of the Mekong River in Cambodia found the turtle in abundance along a 48 kilometres (30 mi) stretch of the river.^[10]^[18]

In the Philippines, a juvenile Cantor's turtle known as "cagot" appeared and was captured by a fisherman along the Addalam River, Cabarroguis, Quirino, Isabela. In 2001, this turtle was sent to Chicago and its identity confirmed.^[19] The reptile has been evaluated as an EDGE species by the Zoological Society of London.^[20]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Choudhury, B.C.; Das, I. [in French]; Horne, B.D.; Li, P.; McCormack, T.; Praschag, P.; Rao, D.-Q.; Wang, L. (2021). "Pelochelys cantorii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T135458600A1076984. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T135458600A1076984.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Rhodin, Anders G.J.; Iverson, John B.; Roger, Bour; Fritz, Uwe; Georges, Arthur; Shaffer, H. Bradley; van Dijk, Peter Paul (August 3, 2017). "Turtles of the world, 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status (8th Ed.)" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 7. ISBN 978-1-5323-5026-9. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
^ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 149–368. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. S2CID 87809001.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ernst, C. H.; Altenburg, R. G. M.; Barbour, R. W. (1998). Turtles of the world [CD-ROM].
^ Webb, R.G. (1995). "Redescription and neotype designation of Pelochelys bibroni from southern New Guinea (Testudines: Trionychidae)". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 1 (4): 301–310.
^ Gray, J.E. (1864). "Revision of the species of Trionychidae found in Asia and Africa, with the descriptions of some new species". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1864: 76–98.
^ Boulenger, G.A. (1891). "XXXI.—On the occurrence of Pelochelys in China". Journal of Natural History. 7 (39): 283–284. doi:10.1080/00222939109460609.
^ "Rare Soft Shell Turtle, Nesting Ground Found in Cambodia". ScienceDaily. 19 May 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mydans, Seth (18 May 2007). "How to Survive in Cambodia: For a Turtle, Beneath Sand". New York Times.
^ De Rooij, N. (1915). The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. A. Asher.
^ Pritchard, P.C. (2005). "Survival status and prospects for Rafetus swinhoei (Chelonia: Trionychidae)". 2005 Turtle Survival Alliance Annual Conference Proceedings: 19–22.
^ Das, I. (2010). "Pelochelys cantorii Gray 1864- Asian Giant Softshell Turtle". In Iverson, J. B.; Mittermeier, R. A. (eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs. Vol. 5.
^ Das, I. (1985). Indian Turtles, a Field Guide. Calcutta: World Wildlife Fund--India (Eastern Region).
^ Brown, Rafe M. [in French]; Siler, Cameron D.; Oliveros, Carl H.; Welton, Luke J.; Rock, Ashley; Swab, John; Van Weerd, Merlijn; van Beijnen, Jonah; Jose, Edgar; Rodriguez, Dominic; Jose, Edmund; Diesmos, Arvin C. [in French] (2013). "The amphibians and reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines, VIII: the herpetofauna of Cagayan and Isabela Provinces, northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range". ZooKeys (266): 1–120. Bibcode:2013ZooK..266....1B. doi:10.3897/zookeys.266.3982. PMC 3591760. PMID 23653519.
^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
^ "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pelochelys cantorii". 30 June 2000.
^ Munthit, K. (16 May 2007). "Rare Turtle's New Chance". Associated Press.
^ Taguinod, Floro C. (8 July 2008). "After seven years, rare soft-shelled turtle resurfaces in Quirino Province". GMA News Online.
^ "Cantor's Giant Softshell".

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Pelochelys cantorii.

Media related to Pelochelys cantorii at Wikimedia Commons

"Pelochelys cantorii ". The Reptile Database. No date. Accessed May 18, 2007.
"Pelochelys Gallery". Turtle and Tortoise Information. World Chelonian Trust. No date. Accessed May 18, 2007.
Soft Shell turtle discovered in Sabang Pulau Weh Sumatra Indonesia.

Trionychidae family

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Subclass: Anapsida
Order: Testudines
Superfamily: Trionychia

Genera

Species of the Trionychidae family

Amyda

Asiatic softshell turtle
†Amyda gregaria
Amyda ornata

Apalone

†Axestemys

†Axestemys byssina
†Axestemys cerevisia
†Axestemys montinsana
†Axestemys quinni
†Axestemys splendida
†Axestemys vittata

Chitra

Cyclanorbis

Cycloderma

Dogania

Malayan softshell turtle

†Gilmoremys

†Gilmoremys gettyspherensis
†Gilmoremys lancensis

†Hutchemys

†Hutchemys arctochelys
†Hutchemys rememdium
†Hutchemys tetanetron
†Hutchemys sterea
†Hutchemys acupictus

†Khunnuchelys

†Khunnuchelys erinhotensis
†Khunnuchelys kizylkumensis
†Khunnuchelys lophorhothon

Lissemys

Nilssonia

†Palaeoamyda

†Palaeoamyda messeliana

Palea

Wattle-necked softshell turtle

Pelochelys

Pelodiscus

Rafetus

Trionyx

Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on turtles of the world 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status. †=extinct.

Testudines

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Diapsida
Order: Testudines

Genus

Chelonioidea
(Sea turtles)

Cheloniidae	†Allopleuron Caretta †Carolinochelys Chelonia †Eochelone Eretmochelys †Gigantatypus †Glarichelys †Itilochelys Lepidochelys †Mexichelys †Miocaretta Natator †Pacifichelys †Syllomus †Tasbacka
Dermochelyidae	†Arabemys †Corsochelys †Cosmochelys Dermochelys †Eosphargis †Mesodermochelys †Psephophorus
	†Euclastes †Peritresius †Procolpochelys †Protosphargis †Puppigerus

Kinosternoidea

Dermatemydidae	Dermatemys
Kinosternidae	Claudius †Hoplochelys Kinosternon Staurotypus Sternotherus

Testudinoidea

Emydidae	†Acherontemys Chrysemys Clemmys Deirochelys Emys Actinemys Emydoidea Glyptemys Graptemys Malaclemys Pseudemys Terrapene Trachemys †Wilburemys
Geoemydidae	Batagur †Banhxeochelys Cuora Cyclemys Geoclemys Geoemyda Hardella Heosemys Leucocephalon Malayemys Mauremys Melanochelys Morenia Notochelys Orlitia Pangshura Rhinoclemmys Sacalia Siebenrockiella Vijayachelys
Platysternidae	Platysternon
Testudinidae	Aldabrachelys Astrochelys Centrochelys Chelonoidis Chersina Cylindraspis †Cymatholcus †Floridemys Geochelone Gopherus †Hadrianus †Hesperotestudo Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria †Megalochelys †Oligopherus Psammobates Pyxis †Solitudo Stigmochelys †Stylemys Testudo

Trionychia

Carettochelyidae	†Allaeochelys †Anosteira Carettochelys
Trionychidae	Amyda Apalone †Axestemys Chitra Cyclanorbis Cycloderma †Drazinderetes Dogania †Gilmoremys †Hutchemys †Khunnuchelys Lissemys Nilssonia Palea †Palaeoamyda Pelochelys Pelodiscus Rafetus Trionyx
	†Basilochelys †Sinaspideretes

Chelydridae	Chelydra †Chelydrops †Chelydropsis †Emarginachelys †Macrocephalochelys Macrochelys †Planiplastron †Protochelydra
†Nanhsiungchelyidae	†Anomalochelys †Basilemys †Jiangxichelys
†Protostegidae	†Alienochelys †Archelon †Atlantochelys †Bouliachelys †Calcarichelys †Cratochelone †Desmatochelys †Iserosaurus †Notochelone †Ocepechelon †Pneumatoarthrus †Protostega †Rhinochelys †Santanachelys †Terlinguachelys
	†Adocus †Argillochelys †Bashuchelys †Ctenochelys †Prionochelys †Toxochelys

Pleurodira

†Araripemydidae	†Araripemys
†Bothremydidae	†Araiochelys †Arenila †Azabbaremys †Bothremys †Cearachelys †Chedighaii †Chupacabrachelys †Eotaphrosphys †Foxemys †Galianemys †Ilatardia †Inaechelys †Itapecuruemys †Jainemys †Kinkonychelys †Kurmademys †Labrostochelys †Nigeremys †Phosphatochelys †Polysternon †Puentemys †Rosasia †Rhothonemys †Sankuchemys †Taphrosphys †Ummulisani †Zolhafah
Chelidae	Acanthochelys Chelodina Chelus Elseya Elusor Emydura Hydromedusa †Lomalatachelys Mesoclemmys Myuchelys Phrynops Platemys †Prochelidella Pseudemydura Rheodytes Rhinemys †Yaminuechelys
Pelomedusidae	Pelomedusa Pelusios
Podocnemididae	†Albertwoodemys †Bauruemys †Brontochelys †Caninemys †Carbonemys †Cerrejonemys †Cordichelys Erymnochelys †Lapparentemys †Latentemys Peltocephalus Podocnemis †Stupendemys
†Sahonachelyidae	†Sahonachelys †Sokatra

	†Caribemys †Caririemys †Tacuarembemys

Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on Turtles of the World 2017 Update: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status. † = extinct.

See also List of Testudines families

Taxon identifiers	Wikidata: Q2006609 Wikispecies: Pelochelys cantorii ARKive: pelochelys-cantorii BOLD: 669853 CoL: 76CZZ EoL: 789992 GBIF: 2442658 iNaturalist: 73893 ITIS: 949479 IUCN: 16502 NCBI: 171793 Observation.org: 102049 Open Tree of Life: 402522 RD: cantorii Species+: 7022

This page was last edited on 23 February 2024, at 11:51

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