The northern river terrapin (Batagur baska) is a species of riverine turtle native to Southeast Asia. It has been classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and considered extinct in much of its former range; as of 2018, the population in the wild was estimated at 100 mature individuals.[1]
River terrapins of different age cohorts: (from top to bottom) hatchling of about a week old, one year old and two years old.
The northern river terrapin is one of Asia's largest freshwater and brackwater turtles, reaching a carapace length of up to 60 cm and a maximum weight of 18 kg.[4] Its carapace is moderately depressed, with a vertebral keel in juveniles. The plastron is large, strongly angulate laterally in the young, convex in the adult. The head is rather small, with a pointed and upwards-tending snout. The legs have band-like scales.[5]
The upper surface of the carapace and the soft parts are generally olive-brown, while the plastron is yellowish. Head and neck are brown with reddish bases. Males in breeding coloration have a black head and neck with a crimson or orange dorsal surface and red or orange forelegs. The colour of the pupils also changes during this period, to brown in females and yellow-white in males. During the breeding season, the color of the pupils of a female brown whereas the pupils in the males become yellowish-white.[5][6]
The northern river terrapin is omnivorous, taking waterside plants and small animals such as clams.[7] The species prefers freshwater habitats and moves to brackish river mouths or estuaries in the breeding season (December–March), returning after laying their eggs. Individuals have been known to undertake long seasonal migrations of 50 to 60 miles to the sand banks where they were hatched. Females usually lay three clutches of 10–34 eggs each.[7][8]
Conservationedit
The species is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN, principally due to exploitation as a food item (including egg harvesting). Previously, immense numbers were shipped into the fish markets of Calcutta from throughout India; among the Bengali Hindus, the river terrapin was considered the most delectable of all turtles.[9] It is still illegally exported from Indonesia and traded in large numbers in China. Loss of nesting beaches and pollution are also impacting the species.[1]
^ abcdePraschag, P.; Singh, S. (2019). "Batagur baska". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T97358453A2788691. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T97358453A2788691.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^ abRhodin, A. G.J.; van Dijk, P. P.; Inverson, J. B.; Shaffer, H. B.; Roger, B. (2011). "Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. (PDF) from the original on 2012-01-31.
^Fritz, U.; Havaš, P. (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 212–213. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. S2CID 87809001. (PDF) from the original on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^"Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska)". Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).
^ abBoulenger, G. A. (1890). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma: Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis.
^. The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016.
^ ab"Batagur baska field guide". Asian Turtle Network.
^. Arkive.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
^ abMoll, E. O.; Kalyar Platt; Platt, S. G.; Praschag, P.; van Dijk, P. P. "Batagur baska : Northern river terrapin" (PDF). Iucn-tftsg.org. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
Further readingedit
Das, Indraneil (1989). "Batagur baska in Orissya". Hamadryad: The Journal of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. 14 (1): 2–3.
Gray, J.E. (1857). "Notice of some Indian tortoises (including the description of a new species presented to the British Museum by Professor Oldham)". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 19 (2): 342–344.
External linksedit
(archived 19 May 2007)
Batagur baska at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
April 04, 2024
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The northern river terrapin Batagur baska is a species of riverine turtle native to Southeast Asia It has been classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and considered extinct in much of its former range as of 2018 the population in the wild was estimated at 100 mature individuals 1 Northern river terrapinConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder TestudinesSuborder CryptodiraSuperfamily TestudinoideaFamily GeoemydidaeGenus BatagurSpecies B baskaBinomial nameBatagur baska Gray 1830 2 Synonyms 3 click to expand Emys baska Gray 1830Emys batagur Gray 1831Testudo baska Gray 1831Trionyx Tetraonyx cuvieri Gray 1831Tetronyx longicollis Lesson 1834Tetronyx baska Dumeril amp Bibron 1835Tetraonyx lessonii Dumeril amp Bibron 1835Tetraonyx longicollis Dumeril amp Bibron 1835Clemmys Clemmys batagur Fitzinger 1835Hydraspis Tetronyx lessonii Fitzinger 1835Emys tetraonyx Temminck amp Schlegel 1835Tetraonyx batagur Gray 1844Batagur Batagur baska Gray 1856Clemmys longicollis Strauch 1862Tetraonyx baska Gray 1869Batagur batagur Lindholm 1929Tetraonyx lessoni Bourret 1941 ex errore Batagur ranongensis Nutaphand 1979Batagur basca Anan eva 1988 ex errore Batagur batagur batagur Joseph Ouni 2004Batagur batagur ranongensis Joseph Ouni 2004 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Conservation 5 Taxonomy 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksDescription edit nbsp River terrapins of different age cohorts from top to bottom hatchling of about a week old one year old and two years old The northern river terrapin is one of Asia s largest freshwater and brackwater turtles reaching a carapace length of up to 60 cm and a maximum weight of 18 kg 4 Its carapace is moderately depressed with a vertebral keel in juveniles The plastron is large strongly angulate laterally in the young convex in the adult The head is rather small with a pointed and upwards tending snout The legs have band like scales 5 The upper surface of the carapace and the soft parts are generally olive brown while the plastron is yellowish Head and neck are brown with reddish bases Males in breeding coloration have a black head and neck with a crimson or orange dorsal surface and red or orange forelegs The colour of the pupils also changes during this period to brown in females and yellow white in males During the breeding season the color of the pupils of a female brown whereas the pupils in the males become yellowish white 5 6 Distribution and habitat editThe species is currently found in Bangladesh and India in the Sunderbans Cambodia Myanmar Indonesia and Malaysia It is regionally extinct in Singapore Thailand and Vietnam It is strongly aquatic but uses terrestrial nesting sites frequenting the tidal areas of estuaries large rivers and mangrove forests 1 Ecology editThe northern river terrapin is omnivorous taking waterside plants and small animals such as clams 7 The species prefers freshwater habitats and moves to brackish river mouths or estuaries in the breeding season December March returning after laying their eggs Individuals have been known to undertake long seasonal migrations of 50 to 60 miles to the sand banks where they were hatched Females usually lay three clutches of 10 34 eggs each 7 8 Conservation editThe species is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN principally due to exploitation as a food item including egg harvesting Previously immense numbers were shipped into the fish markets of Calcutta from throughout India among the Bengali Hindus the river terrapin was considered the most delectable of all turtles 9 It is still illegally exported from Indonesia and traded in large numbers in China Loss of nesting beaches and pollution are also impacting the species 1 A hatchery and captive breeding project was established in Bhawal National Park in Bangladesh and another in Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sunderban Tiger Reserve in India with support from Turtle Survival Alliance 9 Taxonomy editTwo subspecies are recognized B b baska Gray 1831 and B b ranongensis Nutaphand 1979 2 See also editSouthern river terrapinReferences edit a b c d e Praschag P Singh S 2019 Batagur baska IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 e T97358453A2788691 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2019 1 RLTS T97358453A2788691 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 a b Rhodin A G J van Dijk P P Inverson J B Shaffer H B Roger B 2011 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 Fritz U Havas P 2007 Checklist of Chelonians of the World PDF Vertebrate Zoology 57 2 212 213 doi 10 3897 vz 57 e30895 S2CID 87809001 Archived PDF from the original on 2011 05 01 Retrieved 29 May 2012 Northern River Terrapin Batagur baska Turtle Survival Alliance TSA a b Boulenger G A 1890 The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma Reptilia and Batrachia Taylor amp Francis An endangered terrapin The New Indian Express Archived from the original on June 1 2016 a b Batagur baska field guide Asian Turtle Network Batagur baska Arkive org Archived from the original on 2015 09 05 Retrieved 2015 09 04 a b Moll E O Kalyar Platt Platt S G Praschag P van Dijk P P Batagur baska Northern river terrapin PDF Iucn tftsg org Retrieved 2022 03 24 Further reading editDas Indraneil 1989 Batagur baska in Orissya Hamadryad The Journal of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust 14 1 2 3 Gray J E 1857 Notice of some Indian tortoises including the description of a new species presented to the British Museum by Professor Oldham Annals and Magazine of Natural History 19 2 342 344 External links editCentre for Turtle Research and Conservation archived 19 May 2007 Batagur baska at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northern river terrapin amp oldid 1208335611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
