Description

Why In News?

A rare softshell turtle was discovered at 2,950 feet in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, a higher altitude than its usual habitat.

About Softshell Turtles

Softshell turtles (Family Trionychidae) are unique freshwater reptiles characterized by the absence of the hard, bony scales (scutes) found on other turtles.

They possess a leathery, flattened shell that allows them to swim faster and hide in the muddy bottoms of rivers and lakes.

Features

Anatomy: They have long, snorkel-like snouts and webbed feet with three claws.

Carapace (The Soft Shell): Its flat, oval upper shell is leathery and olive-green, blending perfectly with riverbed silt.
The Proboscis: Its head features a distinctive snout-like pointed nose, a specialized adaptation that acts as a snorkel, allowing the turtle to breathe while remaining almost entirely submerged.

Habitat: Primarily found in the freshwater systems of the Indo-Gangetic plain, the Brahmaputra basin, and the Mahanadi river.

Behavior: Known as "ambush predators," they bury themselves in sand or mud to surprise prey such as fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Diet: As omnivorous scavengers, they consume fish, mollusks, and frogs, but more importantly, they feed on rotting vegetation and animal carcasses.

Ecosystem Significance

Water Purifiers: By consuming carrion (dead animals), they prevent the spread of diseases in river systems.

Nutrient Cycling: Their movement and feeding habits help stir bottom sediments, aiding in nutrient oxygenation for the aquatic floor.

Indicator Species: Their presence or absence indicates the health of the riverbed and the level of pollution in the water.

Key Species in India

Species	Conservation Status (IUCN)	WPA, 1972 Schedule	Details
Leith’s Softshell Turtle	Critically Endangered	Schedule IV	Endemic to peninsular India (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna rivers).
Indian Softshell Turtle	Endangered	Schedule I	Found in major northern Indian rivers; heavily targeted by poachers.
Black Softshell Turtle	Critically Endangered	Schedule I	Historically found in the Brahmaputra; now mostly survives in temple ponds of Assam and Bangladesh.

Major Threats

Illegal Wildlife Trade: Softshell turtles are heavily trafficked for their meat (calipee) and cartilage, particularly to East Asian markets where they are considered a delicacy or used in traditional medicine.

Habitat Degradation: Sand mining, dam construction, and river pollution destroy their nesting sites and diminish their food supply.

Bycatch: Entanglement in fishing nets remains a silent killer in the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins.

Source: HINDUSTANTIMES

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The illegal trade of "Calipee" is associated with which of the following animals?

A) Sea Cucumbers

B) Softshell Turtles

C) Pangolins

D) Star Tortoises

Answer: B

Explanation:

The illegal trade of "Calipee" is associated with B) Softshell Turtles. Calipee is a cartilaginous, jelly-like, yellow substance found inside the lower shell (plastron) and along the edges of the shell (carapace) of turtles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Unlike other chelonians, softshell turtles lack hard, keratinized epidermal plates (scutes). Instead, they feature a flattened, leathery carapace that reduces drag in the water. They also have snorkel-like snouts and heavily webbed feet, allowing them to remain submerged in deep waters while breathing.

The 'Calipee' trade involves the illegal poaching of turtles for the yellowish, gelatinous cartilaginous tissue found inside their lower shell. Traffickers smuggle this dried tissue to East Asian markets for use

'Operation Save Kurma' is a pan-India law enforcement initiative launched by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to dismantle organized turtle smuggling syndicates. The operation successfully seized over 15,000 live turtles and led to multiple arrests, earning the WCCB an award from the UNEP.