Explore Our Affordable Courses

Click Here

Spotted Pond Turtle

Context

Three persons engaged as mahouts in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve have been arrested for capturing and consuming a rare species of a freshwater turtle- Spotted Pond Turtle. 

About Spotted Pond Turtle:

  • Common Names: Black Pond Turtle, Black Spotted Turtle, Hamilton’s Terrapin
  • Distribution:
    • The species is found in north and north-eastern Indian subcontinent primarily in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. 
    • It is found in the Indus and Ganga river drainage, from Pakistan to Bangladesh and also in northeast India. 
    • It is also reported to be found in Gomti and Girwa rivers in Uttar Pradesh, Aravalli foothills and Gandak Dam in Bihar.
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN : Endangered
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
    • CITES : Appendix I 
  • Characteristics, Habitat and Behaviour:
    • Black spotted turtles are black in colour with yellowish streaks or spots and wedge-shaped marks. 
    • Their head is black with yellow spots and is extremely large, short-snouted. 
    • The neck is greyish and has white spots. The skin at the backside of the forehead of this species is divided into shields.
    • They are freshwater turtles found in lentic water bodies. 
    • They are mainly carnivorous and feed on snails and insect larvae, however, vegetative material has also been found in some of the digestive tracts.
  • Major Threats:
    • Habitat loss due to land fillings and conversion of the lentic water bodies into agricultural land such as rice fields and for human settlements.
    • The species is subjected to commercial exploitation for meat consumption.

News Source:The Hindu, WII

To get PDF version, Please click on "Print PDF" button.

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Download October 2024 Current Affairs.   SRIJAN 2025 Program (Prelims+Mains) !     Current Affairs Plus By Sumit Sir   UPSC Prelims Test Series 2025

THE MOST
LEARNING PLATFORM

Learn From India's Best Faculty

      

Download October 2024 Current Affairs.   SRIJAN 2025 Program (Prelims+Mains) !     Current Affairs Plus By Sumit Sir   UPSC Prelims Test Series 2025

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">







    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.