Indian Flap-shelled Turtle
Lissemys punctata
- Class
- Reptile
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 869
- Most observed in
- 🇮🇳 India
- Conservation
- Vulnerable
Description
The Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) is a freshwater species of turtle found in South Asia. The "flap-shelled" name stems from the presence of femoral flaps located on the plastron. These flaps of skin cover the limbs when they retract into the shell. What protection the flaps offer against predators is unclear. Indian flapshell turtles are widespread and common in the South Asian provinces. It is morphologically an evolutionary link between the softshell and hardshell aquatic turtles. Exploitation for profit and habitat change are threats to their survival.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Indian flapshell turtle”.