On 28 December 2015, while surveying the wetland habitats of Thanneermukkom Bund area of Vembanad Lake (9°40′21″N, 76°23′49″E) in Alappuzha District, we (AB) came across an unusually large turtle from the area (Fig.1). Later, it was identified as Asian Giant Softshell Turtle Pelochelys cantorii (Gray, 1864) (Family: Trionychidae) by its size and characteristic shell and the head. The turtle was entangled in a fishing net by the local fisherman during their fishing activity and was rescued. There were no external injuries and the turtle was in good health. Later, the specimen was released back to the Vembanad Lake.

Thanneermukkom bund was constructed in the year of 1974 to check the saltwater intrusion from the Vembanadu Lake into the paddy fields of Kuttanad area, which is low lying and most areas are reclaimed lands. The western side of the bund is more saline when compare to the eastern side.  We found the specimen from the western side of Thannermukkom bund. The details of the measurement of the turtle are given below.

Carapace length – 89.96 cm
Carapace width – 68 cm
Front flippers length – 17 cm
Back flippers length- 9.5 cm

The Asian Giant Softshell Turtle Pelochelys cantorii (Gray, 1864) is a little known species from South and South-east Asia. The turtle is characterized by its large size, which can reach 60–100 cm in total carapace length, and depressed shell, small head and short snout. It occurs in a variety of habitats including lakes, rivers, estuaries, seacoasts, and occasionally, in coastal marine waters. The species is known to occur in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Sumatra and Borneo (Das 2008). In India, the species is known mainly from eastern coast in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala (Moll & Vijaya 1986; Das 1995; Vasudevan 2009). On the west coast of India, the species is known from Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram District (Nair & Badarudeen 1975), Kannur District (Palot & Radhakrishnan 2002, 2004), Kozhikode District (Palot 2003, Palot & Radhakrishnan, 2011) and Malappuram District (Bijukumar 2004). Little is known about its status, distribution, natural history, habits and breeding. The species is listed in the ‘Endangered’ category of the IUCN Red List and in Appendix II of the CITES. It is also protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Acknowledgements: 

The authors are grateful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India for facilities and encouragements. AB is indebted to Mr. Saji Jayamohan, Secretary of Green Roots Nature Conservation Forum, Alappuzha for field support.

References:
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