Turt le s o f N e p a l
Pangshura smithii pallidipes (Moll, 1987)
20
A Fie ld G u id e fo r S p e c ie s Ac c o u n ts a n d D istrib u tio n
Common Name: Pale Footed Roofed Turtle
Size: C a ra p a c e le n g th in m a le s 1 0 1 to 1 0 8 m m a n d fe m a le s 1 5 3 to 2 2 7 m m (S h a h & Tiw a ri
2 0 0 4 ).
Identification: Small to moderate in size, depressed carapace with a flat keel terminating in a knob, a
rd
th
weak horizontal or no spine on the 3 vertebral shield; bottle-neck shaped 4 vertebral scute at contact
point; carapace light greyish brown, with pale yellow rim round its periphery, a black or brown to
reddish vertebral stripe from vertebrals 2-6, growing fainter posteriorly and darkening with age;
plastron shields straw yellow, without spots, or faint ones near lateral sutures; head light olive, pale
greyishyellowtodarkbrown,irispalegreentoblue;neckwithnarrowdarkandlightcreamstripes.
Disting uishing F eatures: The species differ with other species of Pangshura in keel
colouration black or brown, 3rd vertebral keel is generally longer than the 2n d, differs from
nominate form smithii in lack of dark plastral coloration and reduced pigment on head, limbs
and penis; head light olive, pale greyish yellow to dark brown; iris pale green to blue; neck
with narrow and light cream stripes; P. fla v iv e n te r and P. smithii p a llid ip e s both have a light
plastron, but P. smithii smithii has a lower-domed shell.
Sexual Dimorphism: Females are larger, males have longer tails and concave plastron.
E colog y
H abitat: Riverine turtle which is almost ex clusively found in flowing water, rivers,
ox bow lakes, prefers muddy water with rich vegetation (Shah & Tiwari 20 0 4).
H abits: O mnivorous, insects seem to be their favorite food (D as 1 9 8 5 ); basking on sandy
river banks and on floating objects such as logs, very active and fast swimmer.
R eproduction: M ating between J uly-September, multiple clutches, clutch size 5 -9 eggs.
Distribution: B a n g la d e s h , In d ia , N e p a l a n d P a k is ta n .