Nubian flapshell turtle

The Nubian flapshell turtle[1] or Nubian soft-shelled turtle[3] (Cyclanorbis elegans) is one of two species of softshell turtle in the genus Cyclanorbis of the Trionychidae family. It has historically been found in a wide range spanning Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, and Togo. However, it has been very rarely recorded during the last 50 years (not a single individual has been observed during the last 15 years) and there is little hope that the species is extant in Ghana, Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon. In early 2019, a remnant population was found in the White Nile wetlands in South Sudan by Prof. Luca Luiselli and his team.[4]

Nubian flapshell turtle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Trionychidae
Genus: Cyclanorbis
Species:
C. elegans
Binomial name
Cyclanorbis elegans
(Gray, 1869)
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Baikiea elegans Gray, 1869
  • Cyclanorbis elegans – Boulenger, 1889
  • Cyclanorbis oligotylus Siebenrock, 1902

Description

The Nubian flapshell turtle can reach a length of up to 70 cm (27.5 in).[4]

Conservation

The Nubian flapshell turtle's habitat is located in politically very unstable areas which results in habitat loss. In addition the turtles are hunted as bushmeat.

References
  1. Baker, P.J.; Luiselli, L. & Diagne, T. (2016). "Cyclanorbis elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6004A3086539. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6004A3086539.en.
  2. Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 313. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. Cyclanorbis elegans at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 February 2021.
  4. "Nubische Klappen-Weichschildkröte". Turtle Island (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-09.


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