Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 October 2022 | 14(10): 22029–22031

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7908.14.10.22029-22031

#7908 | Received 08 March 2022 | Final received 21 September 2022 | Finally accepted 28 September 2022

 

 

New distribution record of Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans (Anderson, 1875) from Manas National Park, Assam, India

 

Gayatri Dutta 1, Ivy Farheen Hussain 2, Pranab Jyoti Nath 3 & M. Firoz Ahmed 4

 

1,2,4  Tiger Research and Conservation Division, Aaranyak, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

3 Assam Forest Department, Manas National Park, Assam 781315, India.

1 gayatri@aaranyak.org (corresponding author), 2 ivy@aaranyak.org, 3 pronabjyotinath955@gmail.com, 4 mfa.aaranyak@gmail.com

 

 

 

Editor: Raju Vyas, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.           Date of publication: 26 October 2022 (online & print)

 

Citation: Dutta, G., I.F. Hussain, P.J. Nath & M.F. Ahmed (2022). New distribution record of Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans (Anderson, 1875) from Manas National Park, Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 14(10): 22029–22031. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7908.14.10.22029-22031

 

Copyright: © Dutta et al. 2022. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: None.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. 

 

Acknowledgements:  The authors express their gratitude to Mr. Amal Chandra Sharma, former field director of the Manas TR for his encouragement to publish this record. Our special thanks to the Manas Tiger mobile patrol team of Bhuyanpara Range, Mr. Kameswar Baro, I/C Bhuyanpra Range, Manas National Park for their assistance in field. We would like to thank Aaranyak and Panthera for their support.

 

 

 

Nilssonia is a genus of softshell turtles under the family Tionychidae distributed widely in southern Asia including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Rhodin et al. 2021). The Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ and the population is decreasing as per the latest IUCN Red List (Praschag et al. 2021).  Back in 2002, the IUCN Red List categorized the N. nigricans as ‘Extinct in the wild’ (IUCN 3.1) - only surviving in restricted temple ponds in Bangladesh and Assam (IUCN Red List 2002). But gradually, individuals started getting reported from the Brahmaputra River Basin in India as well, Meghna River Basin in Bangladesh (Praschag et al. 2021), and Koach Behar of West Bengal (Yasmin et al. 2021). It is also known to be distributed in some isolated sub-populations in several temple ponds of Assam and Tripura (Praschag & Gamel 2002; Ahmed & Das 2010). The presence of N. nigricans has been reported from Kaziranga National Park, Nameri Tiger Reserve, and Pakke Tiger Reserve, and may also be distributed in Assam’s Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape (KORL) (Ahmed & Das 2010). Little is known about its distribution and much work needs to be done concerning its habitat and ecology. This diurnal large softshell turtle inhabits large rivers and wetlands but its diet in the wild is still unknown, while in the temple ponds, its diet consists of different types of fruit, animal viscera and other substances like puffed rice and bananas (Ahmed et al. 2009).

This species is also observed in wildlife trade as documented from the Brahmaputra River basin (Baruah & Sharma 2010). The targeted exploitation pressure on this species is also known for human consumption but with a small range (Praschag et al. 2021). However, N. nigricans is facing extensive local exploitation including sustained and targeted egg collection for local consumption (Ahmed & Das 2010).

During a field visit to the Manas National Park, we came across a large softshell turtle in a stream (Durabeel Nala of Rupahi River) located in the transitional area between woodland and grassland (26.72°N & 91.075°E) (Figure 1). It was sighted at around 1000 h on 02 May 2021. The turtle was identified as a Black Softshell Turtle N. nigricans using description and taxonomic keys (Prachag & Gamel 2002; Ahmed et al. 2009). In addition to the characters observed on several live specimens along with the one presented with photographs here: a. High dome carapace grey in colour (Image 2); b. Mid-dorsal carapace concave; c. Distinct groove between the bony carapace and the cartilaginous flaps; d. a visibly sharp fall of carapace dome to the posterior (in lateral view (Image 1)); and e. Thick and muscular nuchal fold on carapace.

This is the first confirmed distribution record of the N. nigricans with an adult individual from the Manas National Park, Assam. Earlier, Ahmed & Das (2010) observed small (app. 4 cm carapace width) young ones in streams originating inside Manas NP which were believed to be juvenile N. nigricans. This observation confirms that the species is also found in protected areas other than the PAs mentioned above, increasing its population coverage to more PAs.  This also signifies that the species uses more tributaries of the Brahmaputra river to inhibit in addition to the Jia Bhoroli river, that flows by the Nmaeri TR and Pakke TR on the north bank of the Brahmaputra. This occurrence is reported from a stream of the Pahumara River, a tributary of Beki River that drains into the Brahmaputra River in western Assam.

The Manas National Park (26.6594° N, 91.0011° E) is located in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam in the districts of Baksa and Chirang and spread over an area of 500 km2 (Das et al. 2014). It is located in the sub-Himalayan landscape of northeastern India, contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan, and forms the core of the Indo-Bhutan Transboundary Manas Conservation Area (TraMCA) that covers app. 6,500 km2 area (Borah et al. 2013). It falls under the Key Conservation Area- Jigme Dorji-Manas-Bumdaling conservation landscape in the eastern Himalayan ecoregion (Wikramanayake et al. 2001). In and around Manas National Park, the turtles and their habitats are threatened by loss of habitats due to extensive siltation of riverbed (landslide and mining in Bhutan hills), overfishing, and catching of turtles for meat consumption. The population of this species might be affected given the above threats over the last two-to-three decades. Systematic efforts are needed to study and monitor this species to understand the ecology, food habit, and conservation threats associated.

   

For images - - click here for full PDF

 

References

 

Ahmed, M.F., A. Das & S.K. Dutta (2009). Amphibians and Reptiles of North-east India- A Photographic Guide. Aaranyak, Guwahati, India, 184 pp.

Ahmed, M.F. & A. Das (2010). Tortoises and Turtles of Northeast India: Saving them from Extinction! Survey, Assessment of Present Status and Conservation of Tortoises and Fresh water Turtles in Northeast India. Technical Report, Aaranyak, Guwahati, India, 86 pp.

Baruah C. & D.K. Sharma (2010). Status and conservation of Assam roofed turtle Pangshura sylhetensis in the Brahmaputra floodplain, Assam, India. NeBio 1(3): 42–47.

Borah J., D. Wangchuk, A. Swargowari, T. Wangchuk, T. Sharma, D. Das, N. Rabha, A. Basumatary, N. Kakati, M.F. Ahmed, A. Sharma, D.K. Dutta, B. Lahkar, T. Dorji, P.K. Brahma, L. Ramchiary, T. Tempa, Y. Wangdi, T. Nedup, T. Wangdi, L. Tharchen, P. Dhendup, C, Bhorbora, B. Pandav & J. Vattakaven (2013). Technical Report on Tigers in Indo-Bhutan Transboundary Manas Conservation Complex.

Das A., P. Sharma, S. Harikrishnan, S. Ghosh, A. Nath, D. Dhar, J. Mondol & Y. Wangdi (2014). Report on A Rapid Assessment of Herpetofaunal Diversity in Manas-Bhutan Transboundary Landscape. Submitted to Field Directorate, Manas Tiger Project, Govt of Assam and Park Manager, Royal Manas National Park, Royal Government of Bhutan. Wildlife Institute of India. PARKS, vol 19.1, 38pp,

IUCN (2002). IUCN (2002). Red list of threatened species. https://www.iucnredlist.org/ https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2002.RLTS.T2173A9314968.en

Praschag, P., M.F. Ahmed, M.F. & S. Singh (2021). Nilssonia nigricans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T2173A2778172. Accessed on 18 October 2022. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T2173A2778172.en

Praschag, P. & R. Gemel. (2002). Identity of the Black Softshell Turtle Aspideretes nigricans (Anderson 1875) with remarks on related species. Faunistische Abhandlungen Staatliches Museum fur Tierkundec Dresden 23: 87–116.

Rhodin, A.G.J., J.B. Iverson, R. Bour, U. Fritz, A. Georges, H.B. Shaffer & P.P. Ven (eds.) (2021). Turtles of The World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution And Conservation Status (9th Edition). TTWG (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group), Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 8: 1–472

Wikramanayake E., C. Loucks, D. Olson, J. Morrison, J. Lamoreux, M. McKnight & P. Hedao (2001). Terrestrial ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A Conservation assessment. Island Press, Washington, DC, 643 pp.

Yasmin, H., S. Saha, R. Pandey & T. Roy (2021). A study on community-based conservation of Nilssonia nigrcans (Anderson 1875) in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India, Outlook on Environment, 26–38 pp.