Melanochelys

Species Name

Common Name

Location

Size

Notes

Melanochelys

M. tricarinata

Tricarinate Hill Turtle/Eastern Hill Terrapin [D: Dreikiel-Erdschildkröte]

N India (Assam, W Uttar Pradesh?), Nepal Bangladesh

??cm.

An almost terrestrial hill terrapin. It is similar in many details to M. trijuga but is omnivorous in captivity. Carapace: ??. Plastron: ??. Scalation: ??. Coloration: plastron is yellow - a useful way of distinguishing the species from M. trijuga. Reproduction: 1-3 large eggs are laid.   

M. trijuga

Indian Pond Turtle, Indian Black Turtle

N India (Assam), Sri Lanka, Nepal, N Bangladesh, C Myanmar, Maldives, Chagos Islands

The most widely spread Indian terrapin. Müller notes that some of the races have become quite terrestrial, while the others have remained primarily aquatic. Carapace: ??. Plastron: ??. Scalation: ??. Coloration: plastron is yellow - a useful way of distinguishing the species from M. trijuga. Reproduction: 1-3 large eggs are laid.   

M. t. trijuga

India (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadhu)

Coloration: head greyish or olivaceous with yellow or pink reticulation.

M. t. coronata

India (Tamil Nadhu, Kerala)

Coloration: head olivaceous; snout and top of head black.

M. t. edeniana

Myanmar

40 cm

A larger race, with the shell deep black, with a sternal border, and sometimes also the keels, yellowish. Light markings on the head, if present, small. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

M. t. indopeninsularis

India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, W Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya), Bangladesh, Nepal

Coloration: head grey or brown with indistinct yellow reticulation.

M. t. parkeri

Sri Lanka

M. t. thermalis

India, Maldives, Sri Lanka

21 cm

Coloration: head black, spotted or reticulated with orange or red spots.

M. t. wiroti

No information available: may not be widely accepted as a valid species.