The black softshell turtle, also known as the Bostami turtle, is a freshwater turtle species found in India and Bangladesh. It was previously classified as extinct in the wild but small populations have since been discovered, including in temples and man-made ponds. The turtle is classified scientifically as Nilssonia nigricans and faces major threats of near-extinction in the wild from habitat loss. Conservation efforts aim to protect existing wild and temple populations in order to prevent the species from going extinct.
1. EXTINCT IN WILD Turtle (Series: X a)
Tusar Kanti Ghosal M.Sc Ph.D Email: drtkghosal@gmail.com
Common name: Black softshell turtle or Bostami turtle
Scientific name : Nilssonia nigricans (Anderson, 1875)
Bengali name : Kocchop
Local name at Coochbehar : Mohan
Dated: 14.11.2018
3. Black Softshell Turtle
Nilssonia nigricans (Anderson, 1875)
The Black softshell turtle, previously placed in
Genus Aspideretes is a species of freshwater turtle
found in India (Assam, Northern part of West
Bengal) and Bangladesh (Chittagong and Sylhet).
It was long believed to be inbred individuals of
the Ganges softshell turtle Nilsonia gangeticus
(= Aspideretes gangeticus) or the Indian peacock
softshell turtle Nilsonia hurum (Aspideretes
hurum), but while it is a close relative of the
Nilsonia hurum,it is a distinct species.
8. HABITAT
Originally native to the lower Brahmaputra and its associate river in India and
Bangladeh.
The only population ever reliably known consists of a small number of the
species in a man-made pond which is part of the Bayazid bastomi Shrine,
Chittagong, Bangladesh (Type locality).
Wildlife biologists of the Center for Advanced Research in Natural Resources and
Management found a small population in the wild of Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Few wild populations were discovered in Kaziranga, Assam and in the Jia Bhoroli
River which is a northern tributary of the Brahmaputra.
Another temple population of these turtles was identified in the Kasopukhuri
pond on Nilachal Hill, next to the kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam.
A singular wild turtle was found in the wetlands of Old Akuk Village, Wokha,
Nagaland
Also, another temple population of these turtles was found at Shiva Temple of
Baneswar, Coochbehar, West Bengal.
Its population also noticed by author at Rajmata dighi at Coochbehar town,
West Bengal.
.
9. CONSERVATION STATUS
Near-extinction in the wildernes
In 2002 the IUCN classified the species as Extinct in the Wild
(EW).
In 2004, 408 turtles were found in the pond of the Bayazid
Bastami shrine. According to the shrine committee staff, 90
more turtles were hatched in the pond in 2007, 74 in 2008, 96
in 2009, 28 in 2010, 45 in 2012 and 40 in 2014.
In 2017, a singular wild turtle was found in the wetlands of Old
Akuk Village in Wokha District, Nagaland. DNA from the
specimen sent to Bangladesh was tested and ultimately
confirmed that it was a member of the black softshell species.
10. Health Benefits of Turtle Meat:
Help to enrich the blood and cool the body
Helps to promote longevity
Turtle soup is beneficial in reviving failing kidneys
11. Health Benefits of Turtle Egg:
It is believed to have aphrodisiac qualities.
12. Indian tent turtle,
Pangshura tentoria (Gray, 1834)
Bengali name : Kachua
Another turtle still exist at Duars (Northern part of West Bengal, India):
13. Another turtle still exist at Duars (Northern part of West Bengal, India):
Asian forest tortoise
Manouria emys (Schlegel & Müller, 1844)
14. REFERENCES
Praschag P, Gemel R (2002). "Identity of the black softshell
turtle Aspideretes nigricans (Anderson 1875) with remarks on related
species". Faunistische Abhandlungen 23: 87–116.
Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H.
Bradley; Roger, Bour (2011-12-31). “ Turtle of the world, 2011 update:
Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonomy, ditribution and
conservation status” (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. Archived
from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-22.
Praschag P, Hundsdörfer AK, Reza AHMA. Fritz, U (2007). "Genetic evidence
for wild-living Aspideretes nigricans and a molecular phylogeny of South
Asian softshell turtles (Reptilia: Trionychidae: Aspideretes, Nilssonia)".
Zool. Scripta 36 (4): 301–310. (Nilssonia nigricans, new combination).
Nilssonia nigricans ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org
