Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Assam roofed turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis), recorded as Critically Endangered
Assam roofed turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Assam roofed turtle

Pangshura sylhetensis

Assam roofed turtle is a turtle in the family Geoemydidae — Pangshura sylhetensis, recorded as Critically Endangered.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Pangshura sylhetensis
CITES
Appendix II
Taxonomy
Testudines · Geoemydidae · Pangshura

Appearance

The carapace is olive brown, with a lighter (yellowish to beige) keel.

Adults may attain a maximum length of 20.5 cm, although body sizes of 16 cm are more common.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in the north-eastern and south-eastern parts of Bangladesh (Sylhet), in India (Assam) and possibly in Bhutan. It is found in terrestrial and freshwater habitats in areas with upland tropical moist forest, and fast-flowing streams and perhaps also small rivers. Oxbow lakes may also be inhabited, but shell morphology suggests an adaptation to fast-flowing waters.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Breeding

Assam roofed turtles nest between late October and February, corresponding with the cool, dry season, and produce clutches of 6 to 12 eggs.

In crisis

The Assam roofed turtle is a rare species known only from a few individuals. It is believed to have one of the narrowest distributions of any south Asian geoemydid. Habitat destruction by logging and incidental capture in fishing gear are also thought to present threats. The species is currently classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.

CITES lists this taxon on Appendix II. Confirm the current appendix on the CITES checklist.

Assam roofed turtle is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Assam roofed turtle, Wikidata item Q2701972. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

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Axolotl

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Quick answers

What is Assam roofed turtle?
Assam roofed turtle is a turtle in the family Geoemydidae — Pangshura sylhetensis.
What is the conservation status of Assam roofed turtle?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Pangshura sylhetensis. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Assam roofed turtle live?
It is found in terrestrial and freshwater habitats in areas with upland tropical moist forest, and fast-flowing streams and perhaps also small rivers.
Why is Assam roofed turtle in crisis?
The species is currently classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Pangshura sylhetensis?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Assam roofed turtle a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.