Malayan softshell turtle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Malayan softshell turtle
Dogania subplana from Bogor
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Trionyx subplanus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Gymnopus subplanus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Amyda subplana Fitzinger, 1843 Dogania subplana Gray, 1844 Trionyx frenatus Gray, 1856 Dogania guentheri Gray, 1862 Trionyx guentheri Günther, 1864 Potamochelys frenatus Gray, 1864 Sarbieria frenata Gray, 1869 Trionyx dillwynii Gray, 1873 Trionyx vertebralis Strauch, 1890 Trionyx pecki Bartlett, 1895 Dogania guntheri M.A. Smith, 1931 (ex errore) Dogania subprana Nutaphand, 1979 (ex errore) Dogania subplanus Gaffney & Meylan, 1988 Trionyx subprana Nutaphand, 1990 Trionix subplanus Richard, 1999

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

Geographic range

It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Java, Kalimantan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, and Sumatra.

Description

Adults may attain a carapace length of 35 cm (13.7 in). The head is large and muscular. The carapace is flat, and has straight sides. Juveniles are reddish on the sides of the neck, and have a few round black spots (ocelli) on the carapace. These markings become obscure as the turtles age.

This turtle is a medium to dark brown-green. The nose is long and tapered as with members of the family, Trionychidae. It has eight pairs of pleuralia.

Habitat

D. subplana prefers to live in the clean running water which is found in rocky streams at higher elevations.

Diet

It feeds on snails and other molluscs, crushing their shells with its powerful jaws.