Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle | |
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Fossil carapace | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | Trionychidae |
Genus: | Chitra |
Species: | C. chitra
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Binomial name | |
Chitra chitra
Nutaphand, 1986
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Synonyms [3] | |
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The Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra chitra) is a large species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.
Chitra chitra is also known commonly as Nutaphand's narrowhead softshell. It is a name given in honor of Wirot Nutaphand, a Thai herpetologist who did taxonomy. [4]
C. chitra can reach a straight carapace length of 4.9 ft (1.5 m).[ citation needed]
C. chitra is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. [5]
C. chitra inhabits freshwater rivers and their tributaries. [5]
C. chitra is oviparous. [5] Nutaphand (1986) reported that a large female laid over 100 eggs.
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [5]
The largest C. chitra in the world was a female named Sumo. She was a pet in the possession of Kittipong Jaruthanin, a Thai fish explorer and collector. She died in September 2023, aged more than 40 years. [6]