Indian flapshell turtle
| Indian flapshell turtle Temporal range: Miocene to recent, | |
|---|---|
| L. p. andersoni at Rajaji National Park, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Trionychidae |
| Genus: | Lissemys |
| Species: | L. punctata |
| Binomial name | |
| Lissemys punctata (Lacépède, 1788) | |
| Subspecies | |
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| Synonyms | |
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List
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The Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) is a freshwater species of turtle found in South Asia. The "flap-shelled" name stems from the presence of femoral flaps located on the plastron. These flaps of skin cover the limbs when they retract into the shell. It is unclear what protection the flaps offer against predators. Indian flapshell turtles are widespread and common in the South Asian provinces. It is morphologically an evolutionary link between the softshell and hardshell aquatic turtles. Exploitation for profit and habitat change are threats to their survival.