Burmese flapshell turtle

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Burmese flapshell turtle
Lissemys scutata 2.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Trionychidae
Genus: Lissemys
Species:
L. scutata
Binomial name
Lissemys scutata
(W. Peters, 1868)
Synonyms [3]
  • Emyda scutata
    W. Peters, 1868
  • Emyda fuscomaculata
    Gray, 1873
  • Emyda granosa scutata
    Annandale, 1912
  • Lissemys punctata scutata
    M.A. Smith, 1931
  • Trionyx punctatus scutatus
    Mertens, L. Müller & Rust, 1934
  • Lissemys scutata
    Webb, 1982

The Burmese flapshell turtle (Lissemys scutata), is a species in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

Contents

Taxonomy

Some experts (M.A. Smith, 1931; Mertens, L. Müller & Rust, 1934) considered L. scutata to be a subspecies of L. punctata rather than its own species.

Description

L. scutata has an olive-brown to brown carapace with some dark spotting (in juveniles) or reticulations (in adults), and the first peripheral is smaller than the second. The head is olive to brown with an indistinct dark stripe extending backward from each orbit and another passing backward between the orbits.

Distribution and habitat

L. scutata lives in the Irrawaddy and Salween rivers of Myanmar, the vicinities of Bhamo, Pathein, Chauk, Yangon, Bago, and Mawlamyine in Myanmar, [4] northeastern Thailand, and possibly in Yunnan Province, China (Kuchling, 1995).

Ecology and behavior

Diet

The Burmese flapshell turtle is a piscivore. [5]

Life cycle

L. scutata reproduces sexually. It is oviparous. [5]

Conservation

Although the Burmese flapshell turtle is listed as Least Concern, some speculate it may be Vulnerable as it is traded in large numbers in East Asian food markets. However, not enough research has been done to come to a conclusion on this species' conservation status.

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References

  1. Horne, B.D.; Praschag, P.; Platt, K. (2021). "Lissemys scutata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T12124A505402. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T12124A505402.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 316. doi: 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 . ISSN   1864-5755.
  4. "Lissemys scutata". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  5. 1 2 "Burmese Flapshell Turtle - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2020-06-26.

Further reading