Pelochelys

Pelochelys is a genus of very large softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. They are found from peninsular India northeast to southern China, and south to Southeast Asia and New Guinea.

"Giant softshell turtles" redirects here. For other uses, see Giant softshell turtle.

Pelochelys
Pelochelys cantorii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Trionychidae
Subfamily: Trionychinae
Genus: Pelochelys
Gray, 1864[1][2]
Synonyms[2]

Pelochlys Zhao, 1997 (ex errore)

The species in this genus, while still being freshwater turtles as with all Trionychidae, are unique for having significant salt tolerance and regularly entering near-coastal marine habitats.[3]

Species

These three species are recognized as being valid:[4]

Nota bene: In the above list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pelochelys.

References
  1. Rhodin et al. 2011, pp. 000.207
  2. Fritz & Havaš 2007, p. 317
  3. Group, Asian Turtle Trade Working (2000-06-30). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pelochelys cantorii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  4. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Works cited

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA. 1889. Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New Edition. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). x + 311 pp. + Plates I-VI. (Genus Pelochelys, p. 262, figure 69).
  • Gray JE. 1864. Revision of the Species of Trionychidæ found in Asia and Africa, with Descriptions of some New Species. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1864: 76–98. (Pelochelys, new genus, p. 89).
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