Wattle-necked softshell turtle

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Wattle-necked softshell turtle
Palea steindachneri.jpeg
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
Subfamily: Trionychinae
Genus: Palea
Meylan, 1987 [3]
Species:
P. steindachneri
Binomial name
Palea steindachneri
(Siebenrock, 1906) [3]
Synonyms [4] [5]
  • Aspidonectes californiana
    Rivers, 1889
    (nomen suppressum)
  • Pelodiscus californianus
    Baur, 1893
  • Aspidonectes californiensis [sic]
    O.P. Hay, 1904
    (ex errore)
  • Trionyx steindachneri
    Siebenrock, 1906
    (nomen conservandum)
  • Amyda steindachneri
    K.P. Schmidt, 1927
  • Palea steindachneri
    — Meylan, 1987
  • Trionix steindachneri
    Richard, 1999
  • Pelodiscus steindachneri
    Pritchard, 2001
  • Palea steindachneri
    Ziegler, 2002

The wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri), also commonly known as Steindachner's soft-shelled turtle, [6] is an endangered Asian species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is the only member of the genus Palea. [3]

Contents

Description

P. steindachneri exhibits sexual dimorphism. Females of this freshwater turtle reach up to 44.5 cm (17.5 in) in straight carapace length, while males only reach up to 36 cm (14 in). However, males have a longer tail than the females. [7]

Etymology

The specific name, steindachneri, is in honor of Austrian herpetologist Franz Steindachner. [6]

Geographic range

P. steindachneri is native to southeastern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan), Laos, and Vietnam, but has also been introduced to Hawaii and Mauritius. [3]

Threats

P. steindachneri is endangered by poaching for human consumption. Although pressure on the wild population continues, several thousand are hatched and raised each year on turtle farms in China and Vietnam for food and traditional medicine. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trionychidae</span> Family of turtles

The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as softshell turtles. The family was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826. Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackish areas. Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, and North America, with extinct species known from Australia. Most species have traditionally been included in the genus Trionyx, but the vast majority have since been moved to other genera. Among these are the North American Apalone softshells that were placed in Trionyx until 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle, also known as the small-headed softshell turtle or the Indo-Gangetic softshell turtle, is an endangered species of softshell turtle native to waterways and rivers of the Indian subcontinent. It is very large, feeding on fish, frogs, worms, crustaceans and molluscs, and even the occasional swimming small rodent or other mammal. C. indica, like other softshell turtles, uses it flexible shell to dig itself deep into sandy lake and river bottoms; here, it patiently waits for potential prey to swim by. They will also ambush and chase their prey, depending on availability, the time of year, and size of the prey. In the past it was included as a subspecies of Chitra chitra, a species restricted to Southeast Asia using current taxonomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian giant softshell turtle</span> Species of freshwater turtle

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leith's softshell turtle</span> Species of reptile

Leith's softshell turtle is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is found in peninsular Indian rivers including the Thungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Bhavani, Godavari, Kaveri and Moyar Rivers. The type locality is Pune in India.

<i>Pelochelys</i> Genus of turtles

Pelochelys is a genus of very large softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. They are found from peninsular India northeast to southern China, and south to Southeast Asia and New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Chinese softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle that is native to China and Taiwan, with records of escapees—some of which have established introduced populations—in a wide range of other Asian countries, as well as Spain, Brazil and Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yangtze giant softshell turtle</span> Critically endangered species of turtle

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle, also known commonly as the Red River giant softshell turtle, the Shanghai softshell turtle, the speckled softshell turtle, and Swinhoe's softshell turtle, is an extremely rare species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. It may be the largest living freshwater turtle in the world. The species is native to eastern and southern China and northern Vietnam. With a known population of only three individuals, and with the last females dying out, this species is considered functionally extinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle is a large species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nubian flapshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Nubian flapshell turtle or Nubian soft-shelled turtle 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayan softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Malayan softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is monotypic in its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burmese peacock softshell</span> Species of turtle

The Burmese peacock softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the Trionychidae family. It is one of five species in the genus Nilssonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euphrates softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Euphrates softshell turtle, also known as the Mesopotamian softshell turtle, is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is found throughout much of the Euphrates–Tigris river basin in Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Khūzestān Province of Iran. Historically it has also been reported from Israel, but this likely involves confusion with the very similar Trionyx triunguis.

<i>Pelodiscus</i> Genus of turtles

Pelodiscus is a genus of turtles in the family Trionychidae, the softshells. Based on genetic and morphological analysis there are seven valid species. They are native to Eastern Asia, ranging from the Amur region, south through China and Korea, as far south as Vietnam. Populations in Japan are thought to likely originate from historic human introductions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aubry's flapshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

Aubry's flapshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Central Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The African softshell turtle or Nile softshell turtle is a large species of turtle from fresh-water and brackish habitats in Africa and the Near East. It is the only extant species from the genus Trionyx, but in the past many other softshell turtles were placed in this genus; they have now been moved to various other genera. Despite the name "African softshell turtle", it is not the only species or genus of softshell turtle in Africa. It is a very large species of softshell turtle, with sizes that range from 85 to 94 cm, a weight of 40 kg, and an unconfirmed max size of 120 cm. They are omnivores in diet, consuming small fish, crustaceans, and also palm seeds and fallen leaves.

<i>Chelodina steindachneri</i> Species of turtle

Chelodina steindachneri, commonly known as the dinner-plate turtle, Steindachner's turtle and or Steindachner's flat-shell turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Chelidae. The species is the least known of the Australian turtles and also one of the smallest members of the long-necked turtles of the genus Chelodina. It is a member of the subgenus Chelodina making it closely related to the Chelodina longicollis group of species.

The Burmese narrow-headed softshell turtle, also known commonly as the Myanmar narrow-headed softshell turtle and Van Dijk's chitra, is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amur softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

Pelodiscus maackii, commonly known as the Amur softshell turtle or the northern Chinese softshell turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is found in the Russian Far East, northeastern China, Korea, and Japan. It is possible that the Japanese populations are the result of ancient introductions by humans. This aquatic species may attain a straight carapace length of 32.5 cm (1.1 ft).

The lesser Chinese softshell turtle is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is endemic to China, where it inhabits a small range in Guangxi and Hunan provinces. Populations of this species in Vietnam and Hainan are now considered to belong to a separate species, the spotted softshell turtle. There is some controversy within researchers over whether or not P. parviformis is a valid species, but a study in 2015 reaffirmed it as such.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The spotted softshell turtle is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is found in Indochina, where it is largely restricted to most of Vietnam; isolated populations belonging to Pelodiscus have been discovered in Hainan Island, some of which are considered spotted softshell turtles. Aside from genetic differences, this species can be most readily distinguished from other Pelodiscus by the large blotches on its plastron, which also gave it its name. Due to its restricted geographic range and the heavy level of exploitation it receives, it has been proposed that this species be classified as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List.

References

  1. Fong, J.; Hoang, H.; Li, P.; McCormack, T.; Rao, D.-Q.; Timmins, R.J.; Wang, L. (2021). "Palea steindachneri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T15918A794203. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T15918A794203.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Bour, Roger (2011-12-31). "Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-01-31.
  4. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-01.
  5. Species Palea steindachneri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  6. 1 2 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. (Palea steindachneri, p. 252).
  7. Ernst CH; Lovich JE (2009). Turtles of the United States and Canada (2 ed.). p. 636. ISBN   978-0-8018-9121-2.
  8. Dharmananda, Subhuti, Endangered species issues affecting turtles and tortoises in Chinese medicine, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon
  9. "Raising trionychid turtles in Yen Bai", Vietnam in Photos, 2013-02-17

Further reading