The specific name, leithii, is in honor of Andrew H. Leith, a physician with the Bombay Sanitary Commission.[6]
Descriptionedit
Nilssonia leithii is intermediate between Nilssonia gangetica and Nilssonia hurum. It is like the former in the width of the interorbital apace, the comparatively short mandibular symphysis, and the markings of the head. It is like the latter in the longer and more pointed snout, the absence of a strong ridge on the inner alveolar surface of the mandible, and in the presence, in the young, of four or more dorsal ocelli, which are, however, smaller than in N. hurum.[7]
Adults may attain a straight carapace length of 64 cm (25 in).[8]
Dietedit
Nilssonia leithiipreys on mosquito larvae, crabs, freshwater molluscs, and fish.[4] They also sometimes feed on small aquatic vegetation.[8]
Reproductionedit
The adult female N. leithii lays eggs in June. The eggs are spherical, and the diameter of each egg is 30 to 31 mm (1.2 in).[8]
Threatsedit
This species is locally exploited throughout peninsular India.[9] Other major threats are riverine development projects, aquatic pollution, sand mining, construction of hydroelectric projects, poaching, exploitation of eggs,.[10][4]
^ abcdPraschag, P.; Das, I.; Choudhury, B.C.; Singh, S. (2021). "Nilssonia leithii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T2174A2778380. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T2174A2778380.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abcDas, I., Sirsi, S., Vasudevan, K., and Murthy ,B.H.C.K (2014). Nilssonia leithii (Gray 1872) – Leith’s Softshell Turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Iverson, J.B., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 075.1–5, doi:10.3854/crm.5.075.leithii.v1.2014, http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/.
^Gray,J.E.1872. Notes on the mud-turtles of India (Trionyx, Geoffroy). Annals and Magazines of Natural History (4)10:326–340
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Nilssonia leithii, p. 155).
^Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Trionyx leithii, p. 12).
^ abcDas I (2002). Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN0-88359-056-5. (Aspideretes leithii, p. 138).
^Biju Kumar, A. 2004. Records of Leith’s softshell turtle, Aspideretes leithi (Gray, 1872) and Asian giant soft shell turtle, Pelochelys cantorii (Gray, 1864) in Bharathapuzha River, Kerala. Zoos’ Print Journal 19(4):1445
^Dharwadkar, Sneha (23 February 2023). "Sneha Dharwadkar (2020) Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises Foundation". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
^Jafer Palot, Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat Regional Centre; in Venkataraman, K., Chattopadhyay, A. and Subramanian, K.A. (editors). 2013. Endemic Animals of India(vertebrates): 1–235+26 Plates. (Published by the director, Zoological Survey of india, Kolkata)
Further readingedit
Gray JE (1872). "Notes on the Mud-Tortoises of India (Trionyx, Geoffroy)". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Fourth Series10: 326–340. (Trionyx leithii, new species, 334–335).
External linksedit
Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 149–368. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. S2CID 87809001.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nilssonia leithii.
Nilssonia leithii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
December 15, 2023
leith, softshell, turtle, nilssonia, leithii, species, turtle, family, trionychidae, species, found, peninsular, indian, rivers, including, thungabhadra, ghataprabha, bhavani, godavari, kaveri, moyar, rivers, type, locality, pune, india, conservation, statuscr. Leith s softshell turtle Nilssonia leithii 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 4 The type locality is Pune in India 5 Leith s softshell turtleConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder TestudinesSuborder CryptodiraFamily TrionychidaeGenus NilssoniaSpecies N leithiiBinomial nameNilssonia leithii Gray 1872 1 Synonyms 3 Trionyx javanicus Gray 1831 part Testudo gotaghol Buchanan Hamilton 1831 nomen nudum Aspilus gataghol Gray 1872 Trionyx leithii Gray 1872 Isola leithii Gray 1873 Aspideretes leithii O P Hay 1904 Trionyx sulcifrons Annandale 1915 Trionyx leithi M A Smith 1931 ex errore Amyda leithi Mertens L Muller amp Rust 1934 Aspideretes leithi Choudhury amp Bhupathy 1993 Trionys leithii Obst 1996 Trionix leithi Richard 1999 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Diet 4 Reproduction 5 Threats 6 Geographic range 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links 10 External linksEtymology editThe specific name leithii is in honor of Andrew H Leith a physician with the Bombay Sanitary Commission 6 Description editNilssonia leithii is intermediate between Nilssonia gangetica and Nilssonia hurum It is like the former in the width of the interorbital apace the comparatively short mandibular symphysis and the markings of the head It is like the latter in the longer and more pointed snout the absence of a strong ridge on the inner alveolar surface of the mandible and in the presence in the young of four or more dorsal ocelli which are however smaller than in N hurum 7 Adults may attain a straight carapace length of 64 cm 25 in 8 Diet editNilssonia leithii preys on mosquito larvae crabs freshwater molluscs and fish 4 They also sometimes feed on small aquatic vegetation 8 Reproduction editThe adult female N leithii lays eggs in June The eggs are spherical and the diameter of each egg is 30 to 31 mm 1 2 in 8 Threats editThis species is locally exploited throughout peninsular India 9 Other major threats are riverine development projects aquatic pollution sand mining construction of hydroelectric projects poaching exploitation of eggs 10 4 Geographic range editLeith s softshell turtle is endemic to peninsular India 11 in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Kerala Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Tamil Nadu 1 and Odisha 1 References edit a b c d Praschag P Das I Choudhury B C Singh S 2021 Nilssonia leithii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T2174A2778380 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 1 RLTS T2174A2778380 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Fritz 2007 pp 310 311 a b c Das I Sirsi S Vasudevan K and Murthy B H C K 2014 Nilssonia leithii Gray 1872 Leith s Softshell Turtle In Rhodin A G J Pritchard P C H van Dijk P P Saumure R A Buhlmann K A Iverson J B and Mittermeier R A Eds Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises A Compilation Project of the IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group Chelonian Research Monographs No 5 pp 075 1 5 doi 10 3854 crm 5 075 leithii v1 2014 http www iucn tftsg org cbftt Gray J E 1872 Notes on the mud turtles of India Trionyx Geoffroy Annals and Magazines of Natural History 4 10 326 340 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 Nilssonia leithii p 155 Boulenger GA 1890 The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma Reptilia and Batrachia London Secretary of State for India in Council Taylor and Francis printers xviii 541 pp Trionyx leithii p 12 a b c Das I 2002 Snakes and other Reptiles of India Sanibel Island Florida Ralph Curtis Books 144 pp ISBN 0 88359 056 5 Aspideretes leithii p 138 Biju Kumar A 2004 Records of Leith s softshell turtle Aspideretes leithi Gray 1872 and Asian giant soft shell turtle Pelochelys cantorii Gray 1864 in Bharathapuzha River Kerala Zoos Print Journal 19 4 1445 Dharwadkar Sneha 23 February 2023 Sneha Dharwadkar 2020 Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises Foundation India Biodiversity Portal Retrieved 2023 02 23 Jafer Palot Zoological Survey of India Western Ghat Regional Centre in Venkataraman K Chattopadhyay A and Subramanian K A editors 2013 Endemic Animals of India vertebrates 1 235 26 Plates Published by the director Zoological Survey of india Kolkata Further reading editGray JE 1872 Notes on the Mud Tortoises of India Trionyx Geoffroy Ann Mag Nat Hist Fourth Series 10 326 340 Trionyx leithii new species 334 335 External links editFritz Uwe Havas Peter 2007 Checklist of Chelonians of the World Vertebrate Zoology 57 2 149 368 doi 10 3897 vz 57 e30895 S2CID 87809001 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nilssonia leithii Nilssonia leithii at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leith 27s softshell turtle amp oldid 1188064555, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
