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Picture Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_flapshell_turtle

Context: A vulnerable Indian flapshell turtle with a cracked shell was discovered in Budaun, possibly from a vehicle collision, and brought to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute for care

About Indian Flapshell Turtle

• The Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) is a freshwater species native to South Asia.
• Its name derives from the femoral flaps on its plastron, which cover its limbs when retracted. The protective role of these flaps against predators is still not fully understood.
• This species serves as an evolutionary link between softshell and hardshell aquatic turtles and faces threats from habitat changes and exploitation for profit.

Carapace	●The adult carapace is broadly oval, more circular in younger turtles. ●The carapace is widest just anterior to the hind limbs. ●The carapace width is 77-86% of its length, with moderate arching, and the shell height is 35.0-40.5% of the carapace length. ●The carapace margin is smooth, slightly flared posteriorly, and the marginal bones are not united with the pleurals.
Plastron	●The plastron is large but mostly cartilaginous, with its length being 88-97% of the carapace length. ●Features large flaps over the hind limbs and a smaller flap over the tail. ●Contains seven plastral callosities.
Head and Limbs	●The head is large, 21-25% of the carapace width. ●The nose is short and stout; the nasal septum lacks a lateral ridge. ●The jaws' edges are smooth, with expanded and granular alveolar surfaces. ●The claws are large and heavy. ●The tail is very short in both sexes.
Size	●Carapace length ranges from 240 to 370 mm (9.4 to 14.6 inches). ●Males can reach up to 23 cm (9 inches), while females can grow up to 35 cm (14 inches).

Distribution

• The species is found in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
• It has also been introduced to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It inhabits desert ponds in Rajasthan, where many are killed during dry summers.
• Fossils from the Miocene era have been found in Nepal.
• "Des grandes Indes" (continental India), restricted to Pondicherry, Coromandel Coast, India.

Habitat and Ecology

• Preferred Habitat: Shallow, quiet, often stagnant waters such as rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, lakes, and irrigation canals. Prefers waters with sand or mud bottoms due to its burrowing tendency.
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on frogs, shrimp, snails, aquatic vegetation, plant leaves, flowers, fruits, grasses, and seeds.
• Role in Ecosystem: Helps reduce pollution in aquatic ecosystems by feeding on snails, insects, and fragments of dead animals.

Adaptations to Drought

• Behavioural Adaptations: Burrows and moves from water hole to water hole to avoid desiccation. Femoral flaps help survive dry conditions.
• Estivation: Enters estivation during droughts to survive dry conditions. Can survive up to 160 days in estivation.

Aestivation, also known as summer dormancy, is similar to hibernation but occurs in the summer due to high temperatures and dry conditions. It involves inactivity and a reduced metabolic rate to avoid damage and desiccation. Both invertebrate and vertebrate animals enter this state, both on land and in water.

Reproduction

• Courtship and Mating: Becomes reproductively active at age 2 or 3. Mating involves a unique courtship ritual with neck and limb stroking, head bobbing, and attachment during copulation.
• Nesting: Occurs from late summer to the monsoon season (June to November). Prefers swampy areas with soil and sunlight exposure. Eggs are laid two or three times per year in clutches of 2 to 16 and buried in soil for protection.

Threats to Survival

• Exploited for meat and eggs, believed to have aphrodisiac properties.
• The larger size makes them a target for illegal exploitation.
• Habitat changes from dam construction, riverbank cultivation, and pollution.
• Shells are sometimes ground into powder for traditional medicines, though there is no scientific proof of their efficacy. Such myths facilitate illegal trade and smuggling activities.

Conservation Status

• The turtle is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prohibiting its hunting, trade, or possession without specific governmental permissions.
• They are classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. This designation indicates that the species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

Conclusion

• The Indian flapshell turtle is an important species both ecologically and culturally. Conservation efforts are critical to protect this species from threats such as habitat destruction and illegal exploitation. Understanding its unique characteristics and behaviours helps in developing effective conservation strategies.

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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements about the Indian flapshell turtle: 1. The Indian flapshell turtle is omnivorous. 2. The species is classified as Critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. 3. The head of the Indian flapshell turtle is large. 4. The turtle is listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. How many of the above statements are correct? A) Only one B) Only two C) Only three D) All four Answer: B