Leith's softshell turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leith's softshell turtle |
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| Genus: |
Nilssonia
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| Species: |
leithii
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The Leith's softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii) is a special type of turtle. It belongs to the Trionychidae family, which are known as softshell turtles. These turtles live in the rivers of India. You can find them in rivers like the Thungabhadra, Godavari, and Kaveri rivers. The first one found was near Pune in India.
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Naming the Leith's Softshell Turtle
The scientific name for this turtle, leithii, honors Andrew H. Leith. He was a doctor who worked with the Bombay Sanitary Commission.
What Does the Leith's Softshell Turtle Look Like?
Leith's softshell turtle looks a bit like two other turtles: Nilssonia gangetica and Nilssonia hurum. It has a snout that is longer and more pointed. Young turtles have four or more small spots on their back shell. These spots are called ocelli. Adult turtles can grow quite large. Their top shell, called a carapace, can be up to 64 centimeters (about 25 inches) long.
What Do Leith's Softshell Turtles Eat?
Leith's softshell turtles are predators. They mostly eat other small creatures found in the water. Their diet includes mosquito larvae, crabs, and freshwater snails. They also like to eat fish. Sometimes, they will also munch on small water plants.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Leith's softshell turtles lay their eggs in June. The eggs are round, like small balls. Each egg is about 30 to 31 millimeters (about 1.2 inches) in diameter.
Threats to Leith's Softshell Turtles
Sadly, Leith's softshell turtles face many dangers. People sometimes catch them in different parts of India. Other big threats come from human activities near rivers. These include:
- Building projects along rivers
- Water pollution
- Mining sand from rivers
- Building dams for electricity
- Poaching, which means illegally hunting or catching them
- Taking their eggs
Where Do Leith's Softshell Turtles Live?
Leith's softshell turtle is endemic to peninsular India. This means they are only found in this specific region. You can find them in the Indian states of:
