African softshell turtle

The African softshell turtle or Nile softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis) is a large species of turtle from fresh-water and brackish habitats in Africa (larger parts of East, West and Middle Africa) and the Near East (Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey).[3] It is the only extant species from the genus Trionyx, but in the past many other softshell turtles were placed in this genus; they have now been moved to various other genera.[3] Despite the name "African softshell turtle", it is not the only species or genus of softshell turtle in Africa (the genera Cyclanorbis and Cycloderma are also African).[3] It is a very large species of softshell turtle, with sizes that range from 85 to 94 cm, a weight of 40 kg, and an unconfirmed max size of 120 cm. They are omnivores in diet, consuming small fish, crustaceans, and also palm seeds and fallen leaves.

African softshell turtle
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Trionyx
Species:	T. triunguis
Binomial name
Trionyx triunguis (Forskål, 1775)[3]
Synonyms[4]
Testudo triunguis Forsskål, 1775 Testudo striata Suckow, 1798 Trionyx egyptiacus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx aegyptiacus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Amyda triunguis Oken, 1816 Aspidonectes aegyptiacus Wagler, 1830 Trionyx niloticus Gray, 1831 Gymnopodus aegyptiacus Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Trionyx (Pelodiscus) labiatus Fitzinger, 1835 Tyrse nilotica Gray, 1844 Trionyx mortoni Hallowell, 1844 Aspidonectes aspilus Cope, 1860 Fordia africana Gray, 1869 Trionyx triunguis Peters, 1876 Gymnopus aspilus Rochebrune, 1884 Gymnopus aegyptiacus Boulenger, 1889 Pelodiscus triunguis Baur, 1893 Aspidonectes triunguis Hay, 1904 Pelodiscus labiatus Hay, 1904 Tyrse triunguis Hay, 1904 Trionyx triunguis rudolfianus Deraniyagala, 1948 Amyda triunguis rudolfianus Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Amyda triunguis triunguis Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Trionyx aegypticus Młynarski, 1969 (ex errore) Trionyx triungus Gosławski & Hryniewicz, 1993 (ex errore) Trionix triunguis Richard, 1999

Trionyx triunguis was listed on Appendix II by CITES in 2016; the population in Ghana was also included in CITES Appendix III from 1976 to 2007. The Mediterranean subpopulation of the Nile soft-shelled turtle was listed in the “Red List of Threatened Species” by the IUCN as critically endangered. They are under threat because of large use of their habitats with fishing activities, and irrigation, destruction of their nesting places, destruction caused by boats, and water pollution.

A captive African softshell turtle