Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle

Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle Latest News

Forest officials recently found the rare Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve forests of Chhattisgarh, marking an unusual sighting of the Himalayan species in central India.

About Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle

• It is a small, terrestrial turtle species belonging to the family Geoemydidae.
• It derives its name from the three distinct keels on its shell, which provide it with a striking appearance.  
• Scientific Name: Melanochelys tricarinata 

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Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle Habitat and Distribution

• It is found along the narrow sub-Himalayan belt, stretching across northeastern India, southern Nepal, southern Bhutan, and northern Bangladesh. 
• The species primarily inhabits temperate forests, as well as grasslands and foothills of the Himalayas.  

Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle Features

• It is characterised by a highly domed carapace with three longitudinal keels.
• It has a small olive-to-dark coloured head with a narrow snout.
• It has scaly limbs adapted for terrestrial movement.

Himalayan Tricarinate Hill Turtle Conservation Status

It is classified as ‘Endangered‘ under the IUCN Red List.

Source: TOI