Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle facts for kids
The Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra chitra) is a very large type of softshell turtle. It belongs to a group of turtles called Trionychidae. This amazing turtle is found only in Southeast Asia.
Quick facts for kids Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle |
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| Fossil carapace | |
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Chitra
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chitra
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Contents
What's in a Name?
This turtle is also known as Nutaphand's narrowhead softshell. It got this name to honor Wirot Nutaphand. He was a Thai scientist who studied reptiles, especially turtles, and helped classify them.
How Big Do They Get?
The Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle can grow very large! Its shell, called a carapace, can be up to 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) long. That's taller than many people!
Where Do They Live?
You can find Chitra chitra in parts of Southeast Asia. They live in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
What's Their Home Like?
These turtles prefer to live in freshwater places. They make their homes in large rivers and the smaller streams that flow into them.
How Do They Have Babies?
Asian narrow-headed softshell turtles lay eggs. This is called being oviparous. One scientist, Wirot Nutaphand, reported that a very big female turtle laid over 100 eggs at once!
Different Kinds of This Turtle
Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of the Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle.
- Chitra chitra chitra (discovered by Nutaphand in 1986) – This type is found in Malaysia and Thailand.
- Chitra chitra javanensis (discovered by McCord & Pritchard in 2003) – This type lives on the islands of Java and Sumatra.
Turtles as Pets: The Story of Sumo
The biggest Chitra chitra ever known was a female turtle named Sumo. She was a pet owned by Kittipong Jaruthanin. He is a Thai explorer and collector of fish. Sumo lived for more than 40 years before she passed away in September 2023.
