Asiatic Softshell Turtles

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Indo-Pacific Softshell Turtles
(Formerly, most species of this group were defined as Trionyx spp.)

Species

Countries of Origin

Biological Data

Extent of Trade

Population Trends

Amydsa cartilaginea (1770)
Asiatic softshell turtle
Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapour, Indonesia, Brunei

6 to 30 eggs per nest;
up to 4 times a year;
hatching after 135 to 140 days

High level of exploitation for national and international trade

Declining populations in all countries of origin (Jenkins, 1995; Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997; Lehr, 1997; van Dijk, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"

Aspiderete leithii (1972)
Leith’s softshell turtle India, Pakistan Nest size unknown, probably 2 nests per year Exploitation for national markets No data on international trade IUCN (1996): "near thretened"

Chitra chitra (1990)
Kanburi narrow-headed softshell turtle Thailand (point-endemic for the Mae Klong Basin) no data on breeding and population size National trade as pets; No data on international trade There is only one population of about 16 animals (Das, 1997). This is one of the world´s most threatened turtles; IUCN: "critically endangered"

Chitra indica (1831)
Narrow-headed softshell turtle Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand 67 to 187 eggs/nest; incubation period: 40 to 70 days; no data on the population size High level of exploitation for national and international trade; Offered in decreasing numbers Populations declining (Rashid & Swingland, 1997; Shrestha, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"

Dogania subplana (1809)
Malayan softshell turtle Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapour, Thailand, Brunei no data High level of exploitation for national and international trade Declining populations in Thailand (Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997);

Nilssonia formosa (1869)
Burmese peacock softshell turtle Myanmar (Irawaddy-Salween), eventually also in Thailand and China no data Used for TCM in Myanmar; No data on international trade Obviously declining populations (van Dijk, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"

Palea steindachneri (1906)
Wattle-necked softshell turtle Southern China (also at Hainan), Vietnam; Introduced into Hawaii and Mauritius 3 to 28 eggs/nest, once a year no data on population size Offered in decreasing numbers in national trade, illegal exports to Chinese food markets Obviously declining populations (Yiming & Dianmo, 1998), almost disappeared from the markets (Lehr, 1996); "very rare" in China (Nat. Environm. Protect. Agency of China, 1998); IUCN (1996): "near threatened"

Pelochelys bibroni (1993)
Giant sofsthell turtle Papua New Guinea 17 to 28 eggs/nest, no data on population size Offered in decreasing numbers in Vietnam´s and China’s markets Obviously declining populations (Rhodin et al., 1993; Behler, 1997); rare; IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"

Pelochelys cantorii (1864)
Asian giant softshell turtle India, Malaysia, Laos, S-China, Philippines, Indonesia, Myan-mar, New Guinea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapour 20 to 28 eggs/nest no data on population size Offered in decreasing numbers at the Vietnamese and Chinese markets Obviously declining populations (Jenkins, 1995; Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable" Red data book Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable"

Pelodiscus sinensis (1835)
Chinese softshell turtle N-Vietnam, S-China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapour, Philippines 7 to 28 eggs, 2 to 4 times a year, no data on population size Extensive trade within China, mainly for TCM Obviously declining populations (Jenkins, 1995; Lehr, 1996; Yiming & Dianmo, 1998)

March 1999
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Species	Countries of Origin	Biological Data	Extent of Trade	Population Trends
Amydsa cartilaginea (1770) Asiatic softshell turtle	Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapour, Indonesia, Brunei	6 to 30 eggs per nest; up to 4 times a year; hatching after 135 to 140 days	High level of exploitation for national and international trade	Declining populations in all countries of origin (Jenkins, 1995; Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997; Lehr, 1997; van Dijk, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"
Aspiderete leithii (1972) Leith’s softshell turtle	India, Pakistan	Nest size unknown, probably 2 nests per year	Exploitation for national markets No data on international trade	IUCN (1996): "near thretened"
Chitra chitra (1990) Kanburi narrow-headed softshell turtle	Thailand (point-endemic for the Mae Klong Basin)	no data on breeding and population size	National trade as pets; No data on international trade	There is only one population of about 16 animals (Das, 1997). This is one of the world´s most threatened turtles; IUCN: "critically endangered"
Chitra indica (1831) Narrow-headed softshell turtle	Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand	67 to 187 eggs/nest; incubation period: 40 to 70 days; no data on the population size	High level of exploitation for national and international trade; Offered in decreasing numbers	Populations declining (Rashid & Swingland, 1997; Shrestha, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"
Dogania subplana (1809) Malayan softshell turtle	Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapour, Thailand, Brunei	no data	High level of exploitation for national and international trade	Declining populations in Thailand (Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997);
Nilssonia formosa (1869) Burmese peacock softshell turtle	Myanmar (Irawaddy-Salween), eventually also in Thailand and China	no data	Used for TCM in Myanmar; No data on international trade	Obviously declining populations (van Dijk, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"
Palea steindachneri (1906) Wattle-necked softshell turtle	Southern China (also at Hainan), Vietnam; Introduced into Hawaii and Mauritius	3 to 28 eggs/nest, once a year no data on population size	Offered in decreasing numbers in national trade, illegal exports to Chinese food markets	Obviously declining populations (Yiming & Dianmo, 1998), almost disappeared from the markets (Lehr, 1996); "very rare" in China (Nat. Environm. Protect. Agency of China, 1998); IUCN (1996): "near threatened"
Pelochelys bibroni (1993) Giant sofsthell turtle	Papua New Guinea	17 to 28 eggs/nest, no data on population size	Offered in decreasing numbers in Vietnam´s and China’s markets	Obviously declining populations (Rhodin et al., 1993; Behler, 1997); rare; IUCN (1996): "vulnerable"
Pelochelys cantorii (1864) Asian giant softshell turtle	India, Malaysia, Laos, S-China, Philippines, Indonesia, Myan-mar, New Guinea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapour	20 to 28 eggs/nest no data on population size	Offered in decreasing numbers at the Vietnamese and Chinese markets	Obviously declining populations (Jenkins, 1995; Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997); IUCN (1996): "vulnerable" Red data book Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable"
Pelodiscus sinensis (1835) Chinese softshell turtle	N-Vietnam, S-China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapour, Philippines	7 to 28 eggs, 2 to 4 times a year, no data on population size	Extensive trade within China, mainly for TCM	Obviously declining populations (Jenkins, 1995; Lehr, 1996; Yiming & Dianmo, 1998)