Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle
| Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle | |
|---|---|
| Fossil carapace | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Trionychidae |
| Genus: | Chitra |
| Species: | C. chitra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chitra chitra Nutaphand, 1986
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
The Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra chitra) is a large species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia. There are two recognized subspecies.
Common names
Chitra chitra is also known commonly as Nutaphand's narrowhead softshell. It is a name given in honor of Wirot Nutaphand, a Thai herpetologist who did taxonomy.[4]
Description
Chitra chitra can reach a straight carapace length of 4.9 ft (1.5 m).
Geographic distribution
Chitra chitra is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.[5]
Habitat
Chitra chitra inhabits freshwater rivers and their tributaries.[5]
Reproduction
Chitra chitra is oviparous.[5] Females reach sexually maturity at 15 years.[1] Nutaphand (1986) reported that a large female laid over 100 eggs.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[5]
- Chitra chitra chitra Nutaphand, 1986 – Malaysia, Thailand
- Chitra chitra javanensis McCord & Pritchard, 2003 – Java, Sumatra
In captivity
The largest specimen of Chitra chitra in the world was a female named Sumo. She was a pet in the possession of Kittipong Jaruthanin, a Thai fish explorer and collector. She died in September 2023, aged more than 40 years.[6]
References
- ^ a b Cota, M.; Guntoro, J.; As-singkily, M.; Hamidy, A.; Kusrini, M.D. (2019). "Chitra chitra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T4695A152049778. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T4695A152049778.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 311–312. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Nutaphand's Narrowhead Softshell Chitra chitra", p. 192).
- ^ a b c d Species Chitra chitra at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Jaruthanin, Kittipong (2023). "เตรียมพบกับข้อมูลของ'ซูโม่'ในแง่มุมต่างๆอย่างครบถ้วน". Facebook (in Thai). Retrieved 2023-09-29.
Further reading
- De Nardi, Lauren; Le Duc, Olivier; Viriyataveekul, Siravich; Carpentier, Lou; LePrince, Benjamin; Walde, Andrew D.; Luiselli, Luca (2025). "New Records of the Critically Endangered Asian Narrow-Headed Softshell Turtle, Chitra chitra, in Thailand". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 24 (2): 273–278.
- Kitimasak, Wachira; Thirakhupt, Kumthorn (2002). "New Record of Chitra chitra Nutphand [sic], 1986 in Mae Ping River Thailand". The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University. 2 (1): 62–63.
- Nutaphand, Wirot (1986). "[Manlai, the world's largest soft-shelled turtle]" [Thai Zoological Magazine] 1 (4): [64–70]. (Chira chitra, new species). (in Thai).
- Webb, R.G.; van Dijk, P.P. (2004). "Comments on the narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra chitra) (Testudines: Trionychidae)". Hamadryad. 29 (1): 94–100.