Nubian flapshell turtle | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | Trionychidae |
Genus: | Cyclanorbis |
Species: | C. elegans |
Binomial name | |
Cyclanorbis elegans (Gray, 1869) | |
Synonyms [3] [4] | |
|
The Nubian flapshell turtle [1] or Nubian soft-shelled turtle [4] (Cyclanorbis elegans) is one of two species of softshell turtle in the genus Cyclanorbis of the Trionychidae family. It is thought to have ranged from West Africa east through Central Africa to South Sudan, although it has been extirpated from the vast majority of its range.
Historically, Cyclanorbis elegans was found over a wide range, spanning from West Africa (Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo) east through Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan. In 2017, a lone population was found in the White Nile wetlands of South Sudan by Prof. Luca Luiselli and his team; this discovery was publicized in a 2019 paper. [5] [6] In 2021, another population was found along the same wetlands, but in northern Uganda (near the border with South Sudan); the species had not previously been recorded in this area. [7]
On the biodiversity database iNaturalist, several "research-grade" sightings—i.e., with clear photographic evidence and GPS coordinates—of C. elegans have been documented between April 2022 and May 2024; [8] the bulk of these observations took place in and around Salamat, Chad, [9] while others have occurred in West Gonja, Ghana, and Tangúieta, Benin. [8]
The Nubian flapshell turtle can reach a length of up to 70 cm (27.5 in). [5]
The Nubian flapshell turtle's habitat is often located in very politically-hostile and tumultuous areas, which results in habitat loss due to situations surrounding local skirmishes, land mines and a greater need for water by local armed forces and civilians. In addition, especially during times of war, the turtles may be hunted as bushmeat. [6] Some Chinese expatriates in Africa are known to offer rather large sums of money to poorer fishermen in exchange for catching these turtles, as they are valued for both food and Chinese medicine. Some of the captured turtles are then further exported to Asia for "fresh" availability. [10] Bari fishermen, in South Sudan, have extensive cultural knowledge of the Nubian flapshell turtle, including natural history, lifestyle and reproductive patterns, and nesting sites, which may prove useful in future and ongoing conservation efforts of the species. [11]
The Bolson tortoise, also called the Mexican giant tortoise, Mexican gopher tortoise, yellow-bordered tortoise or yellow-margined tortoise, is a species of tortoise from North America. Of the six North American tortoise species, it is the largest, having a carapace length of about 46 cm (18 in). It lives in a region of the Chihuahuan Desert known as the Bolsón de Mapimí, which is located in north-central Mexico.
The Texas tortoise is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species G. berlandieri is one of six species of tortoises that are native to North America.
The African spurred tortoise, also called the sulcata tortoise, is an endangered species of tortoise inhabiting the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, the Sahel, in Africa. It is the largest mainland species of tortoise in Africa, and the third-largest in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise and Aldabra giant tortoise. It is the only living species in its genus, Centrochelys.
The Asian giant softshell turtle, also known commonly as Cantor's giant softshell turtle 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.
Irwin's turtle is a rare species of freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is endemic to Australia, originating from the lower region of the Burdekin River area in northern Queensland, and was named after conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin.
Cyclanorbis is a genus of softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. The genus is endemic to Africa.
The Senegal flapshell turtle is a species of turtle in the subfamily Cyclanorbinae of the family Trionychidae. The species, which is one of two species of softshell turtles in the genus Cyclanorbis, is endemic to Africa.
Mauremys reevesii, commonly known as the Chinese pond turtle, the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle, or Reeves' turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae, a family which was formerly called Bataguridae. The species is native to East Asia.
The Black-breasted leaf turtle, also commonly called the Vietnamese leaf turtle or the black-breasted hill turtle, a species of turtle. The species is listed as one of the smallest turtle species in the world. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia and is listed as endangered as of July 16, 2018.
The variable mud turtle, also known as Rhodesian mud turtle, Mashona hinged terrapin or variable hinged terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is widely distributed in Central, East, and Southern Africa. The species was officially described by John Hewitt in 1927 and had to be broken into subspecies due to color variations on the heads of the turtles acrost the regions.
Aubry's flapshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Central Africa.
Cyclanorbinae, also known commonly as the flapshell turtles, is a subfamily of softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. The subfamily is native to Africa and Asia.
The African softshell turtle, or Nile softshell turtle, is a large species of softshell turtle from freshwater and brackish-water habitats in Africa and the Near East. It is the only extant species in the genus Trionyx; historically, despite other species having been formerly placed in this genus as well, they have all been reclassified to other genera. Despite the common name of "African softshell turtle", Trionyx triunguis is not the sole species of softshell turtle found in Africa—the generas Cyclanorbis and Cycloderma are African—nor is it solely found on that continent, alone. T. triunguis is a very large species of softshell turtle, with sizes ranging from 85 to 94 cm, with a weight of 40 kg, and an unconfirmed max size of 120 cm. They are omnivorous in their diet, consuming not only small fish, frogs, tadpoles and crustaceans, but also floating palm seeds and fallen leaves, and some aquatic vegetation.
The Mexican mud turtle, is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. Endemic to Mexico, they inhabit moist environments, such as shallow ponds, lakes, rivers or intermediate temp. tropical forest areas.
The Ivory Coast mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is one of the most recently described turtle species.
The African dwarf mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to Africa : in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia. These mud turtles are the smallest of all African turtle species, “Nanus” which they are referred to are one of the 3 smallest turtle species in the world. The other two are Stink Pot Musk and Muhlenberg's Bog Turtles. All 3 species barely reach 4 inches as full grown adults. Like many of the world's chelonians, Pelusios castaneus has the potential to live a long life. Reports typically suggest more than 50 years in captivity for this species.
Centrochelys is a genus of tortoise. It contains one living species, the African spurred tortoise, native to the Sahel and adjacent areas. A number of fossil species have been attributed to this genus, but their placement in the genus is considered equivocal.
The Khorat snail-eating turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. They are freshwater turtles from Khorat Plateau in Thailand but were found for the first time in Udon Thani, Thailand.
Tomas Diagne is a Senegalese biologist and activist, known for his efforts toward the conservation of turtles in Africa. He is the founder of the African Chelonian Institute, whose purpose is "to promote the long-term conservation of turtle, tortoise and terrapin populations across the African continent".
The Goode's thornscrub tortoise, also known as the Sinaloan thornscrub tortoise, Sinaloan desert tortoise or Goode's desert tortoise, is a species of tortoise that is native to the Sinaloan desert region. First described in 2016, G. evgoodei inhabits Tropical Deciduous Forest and Sinaloan Desertscrub biomes in Mexico. Its range may overlap in the north with G. morafkai, the Morafka's or Sonoran desert tortoise.