Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle
Why in News?
The Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle is in the news because it was recently spotted in Chhattisgarh’s Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, a place where it is not usually expected, and experts see this as a sign of improving forest health and intact habitat.
Core Specifications
- Scientific Name: Melanochelys tricarinata.
- Family: Belongs to the Geoemydidae family of turtles.
- Sizing: A small to medium-sized turtle, with a maximum straight carapace length of up to 174 mm.
- Behaviour: Entirely terrestrial and secretive; it spends its life foraging on forest floors rather than swimming in deep water bodies.
Distinctive Physical Features
- Three-Keeled Shell: Its name is derived from three distinct longitudinal yellow ridges (keels) running along its highly domed black or dark brown carapace.
- Camouflage Mechanics: The three ridges break up the turtle’s outline, making it resemble forest debris or dry leaves to hide from predators.
- Body Structure: Features a small, olive-to-dark head with a narrow snout and robust, scaly limbs adapted specifically for land transit.
Conventional Habitat & Distribution
- Geographical Range: Historically found along a narrow sub-Himalayan belt encompassing Northeastern India, Southern Nepal, Bhutan, and Northern Bangladesh.
- Ecosystem Preferences: Prefers riverine grasslands, moist deciduous tracts, and wet evergreen forests, generally at altitudes below 300 to 500 metres.
Conservation Status & Key Threats
- IUCN Red List: Categorised as Endangered (status updated in 2020).
- Wildlife Protection Act (India): Placed under Schedule I, granting it the highest level of legal protection against hunting and trade.
- CITES: Listed under Appendix I, strictly banning international commercial trade.
- Primary Threats: Severe habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, illegal collection for the pet trade, and local exploitation for food.
Download Pdf
