Distribution
This turtle is widespread in the plains & mid hills of Sri Lanka, up to 1200m. they are also found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan & northern Myanmar.

Characteristics
This is a soft shelled turtle, with a low domed shell. The shell is oval, with 7 thick callosities on plastron adapted to long periods of drought. The protective shell enables these turtles to burrow deep into the mud and may prevent desiccation. They bear a pair of plastral, retractable flaps over the limbs. The skin-clad & hinged anterior lobe of plastron closes completely. This species is unique among soft shelled turtles because the posterior margin of the bony carapace is ringed by peripheral bones provides additional protection for the hind limbs, which may be completely retracted when the plastral flaps are pulled tightly against the bony rim of the carapace.

Males
The size of the male is smaller than the female.

Length
They grow up to 370mm of length.

Weight

Color
Carapace is not patterned & its plain greenish yellow. The plastron is cream or pale yellow.

Habitat
They inhibit salt marshes with muddy bottoms, river, ponds, streams, ox-bow lakes, canal in cities & rice fields.

Breeding
The male initially stroke the female's carapace with his chin. While facing the male, a receptive female extends her neck and they both bob their heads in a stereotypical pattern before settling to the bottom for copulation.

Eggs are laid in between October & November, hatching following wet season. The eggs are nearly spherical, brittle & hard shelled. Clutches comprise 3-6 eggs; measuring 28.5-33mm. The incubation period is 9 months. The hatchling carapace length average 42mm.

Diet
These tortoises are omnivorous & scavengers on animal corpses far from water bodies & consume fish, crustaceans, insects, earth worms, carrion, tadpoles & frogs. They also consume water plants. They are active by day & by night & feed at dusk.

Identification
The skin-clad shell, 3 claws on each limb & nostrils set on a fleshy proboscis, set these tortoises apart from others.

Human impact & dangers
They are harvested for food in large numbers.

Conservation
They are not threatened.