Nubian flapshell turtle

The Nubian flapshell turtle[1] or Nubian soft-shelled turtle[4] (Cyclanorbis elegans) is one of two species of softshell turtle in the genus Cyclanorbis of the Trionychidae family. It is thought to have ranged from West Africa east through Central Africa to South Sudan, although it has been extirpated from the vast majority of its range.

Nubian flapshell turtle
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Trionychidae
Genus: Cyclanorbis
Species:
C. elegans
Binomial name
Cyclanorbis elegans
(Gray, 1869)
Synonyms[3][4]
  • Baikiea elegans Gray, 1869
  • Cyclanorbis elegans – Boulenger, 1889
  • Cyclanorbis oligotylus Siebenrock, 1902

Distribution

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 and there is little hope that the species is extant in West Africa. In 2017, a remnant population was found in the White Nile wetlands in South Sudan by Prof. Luca Luiselli and his team; this discovery was publicized in a 2019 paper.[5][6] In 2021, another population was found along the White Nile wetlands in northern Uganda, near the border with South Sudan; the species was not previously recorded in this area.[7]

Description

The Nubian flapshell turtle can reach a length of up to 70 cm (27.5 in).[5]

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.[6] In addition, some Chinese expatriates in the area are known to pay high prices to fishermen for catching turtles, and they are used for both consumption and religious veneration. Some turtles may also be exported to Asia for the food trade.[8] Bari fishermen in the area have extensive knowledge of the life history of Nubian flapshell turtles, including their nesting grounds, and this may be useful in conserving the species.[9]

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. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 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 2011-05-01. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  4. Cyclanorbis elegans at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 February 2021.
  5. "Nubische Klappen-Weichschildkröte". Turtle Island (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  6. Demaya, Gift Simon; Benansio, John Sebit; Lado, Thomas Francis; Diagne, Tomas; Dendi, Daniele; Luiselli, Luca (June 12, 2019). "Rediscovery of the Nubian Flapshell Turtle (Cyclanorbis elegans) in South Sudan". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 18 (1): 62–67. doi:10.2744/18.1.62. ISSN 1071-8443. S2CID 198305659.
  7. Luiselli, Luca; Demaya, Gift Simon; Benansio, John Sebit; Lado, Thomas Francis; Jubarah, Salah (January 2022). "Nubian flapshell turtle found in northern Uganda". Oryx. 56 (1): 10. doi:10.1017/S0030605321001332. ISSN 0030-6053. S2CID 245681001.
  8. Luiselli, Luca; Dendi, Daniele; Benansio, John Sebit; Demaya, Gift Simon; Stanford, Craig B. (July 6, 2021). "An additional threat to the recently rediscovered Nubian flapshell turtle in South Sudan". Oryx. 55 (4): 490. doi:10.1017/S0030605321000430. ISSN 0030-6053. S2CID 235736006.
  9. Demaya, Gift Simon; Benansio, John Sebit; Lado, Thomas Francis; Jubarah, Salah Khatir; Ladu, John Leju Celestino; Luiselli, Luca (2019-10-18). "Local Ecological Knowledge in South Sudan Can Help Conservation and Management of Cyclanorbis elegans". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 18 (2): 259–264. doi:10.2744/CCB-1377.1. ISSN 1071-8443. S2CID 208567334.


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