About Red-crowned Roofed Turtle:
- It is a species of freshwater turtle endemic to South Asia.
- It is one of the three large freshwater species in the genus Batagur found in India.
- Distribution
- It is native to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
- Historically, the species was widespread in the Ganga River, both in India and Bangladesh.
- It also occurs in the Brahmaputra basin.
- Features of Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle:
- In comparison to their female counterparts, the males are shorter and reach only half their length.
- They have a reddish-orange colored headwith a black crown and a greenish-brown carapace (upper shell) with yellowish patterns.
- Their plastron (lower shell) is yellow with black markings.
- Diet: It is omnivorousand feeds on a variety of plants and animals.
- It functions as a bio-indicator of river health.
- It contributes to the cycling of nutrients within the river, which is essential for the overall health of the aquatic environment.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Critically Endangered
- CITES: Appendix II
- Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
- Threats: Rampant harvest of adults and eggs, illegal trade, habitat degradation
