The African softshell turtle, or Nile softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis), is a large species of softshell turtle from freshwater and brackish-water habitats in Africa (larger parts of Eastern, Northeastern, Western and Middle Africa) and the Near East (Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey).[3] It is the only extant species in the genus Trionyx; historically, despite other species having been formerly placed in this genus as well, they have all been reclassified to other genera.[3] Despite the common name of "African softshell turtle", Trionyx triunguis is not the sole species (or genus) of softshell turtle found in Africa—the generas Cyclanorbis and Cycloderma are African—nor is it solely found on that continent, alone.[3] T. triunguis is a very large species of softshell turtle, with sizes ranging from 85 to 94 cm, with a weight of 40 kg, and an unconfirmed max size of 120 cm. They are omnivorous in their diet, consuming not only small fish, frogs, tadpoles and crustaceans, but also floating palm seeds and fallen leaves, and some aquatic vegetation.
African softshell turtle | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | Trionychidae |
Genus: | Trionyx |
Species: | T. triunguis
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Binomial name | |
Trionyx triunguis | |
Synonyms[4] | |
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T. triunguis was listed on CITES’s Appendix II in 2016; the population in Ghana was also included in CITES’s Appendix III from 1976 to 2007. The Mediterranean subpopulation of the Nile soft-shelled turtle was listed in the “Red List of Threatened Species” by the IUCN, as critically endangered. They are under threat because of large use of their habitats with fishing activities, and irrigation, destruction of their nesting places, destruction caused by boats, and water pollution.
![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Trionyx_triunguis_aquarium.jpg/220px-Trionyx_triunguis_aquarium.jpg)
Religion
editIn Ancient Egyptian religion the African softshell turtle seems to have been viewed as a symbol of evil animal and opponent of Ra.[5]
Gallery
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African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
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Head of African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
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African softshell turtle with red-eared sliders at Nahal Alexander, Israel
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Head and neck of African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
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Head and neck (retracted) of African softshell turtle at Nahal Alexander, Israel
References
edit- ^ van Dijk; P.P.; Diagne, T.; Luiselli, L.; Baker, P.J.; Turkozan, O.; Taskavak, E. (2017). "Trionyx triunguis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T62256A96894956. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T62256A96894956.en. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ a b c d Rhodin, Anders G. J.; Peter Paul van Dijk, John B. Inverson & Bradley H. Shaffer (December 14, 2010). "Turtles of the World 2010 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution and Conservation Status" (PDF). p. 000.128. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 322–323. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895.
- ^ Gautier, Achilles (2005). "Animal Mummies and Remains from the Necropolis of Elkab (Upper Egypt)". archaeofauna. 14: 139–170. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
Further reading
edit- van Dijk, P.P., Diagne, T., Luiselli, L., Baker, P.J., Turkozan, O. & Taskavak, E. 2017. Trionyxtriunguis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T62256A96894956
- Güçlü, Özgür; Durmuş, Salih Hakan; Candan, Kamil; Beşer, Nurettin; Türkyilmaz, Süheyla; Yerli, Sedat; Bozdoğan, Bülent (2015). "Development and characterization of new polymorphic microsatellite loci for Trionyx triunguis (Testudines: Trionychidae) in the Mediterranean Basin". Amphibia-Reptilia. 36 (3): 318–324. doi:10.1163/15685381-00003003.
External links
edit- Data related to Trionyx triunguis at Wikispecies
- Media related to Trionyx triunguis at Wikimedia Commons