Pelochelys
Pelochelys cantorii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Subfamily:	Trionychinae
Genus:	Pelochelys Gray , 1864 [1] [2]
Synonyms [2]
Pelochlys Zhao , 1997 (ex errore)

Pelochelys is a genus of very large softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae . They are found from peninsular India northeast to southern China , and south to Southeast Asia and New Guinea .

The species in this genus, while still being freshwater turtles as with all Trionychidae , are unique for having significant salt tolerance and regularly entering near-coastal marine habitats . ^[3]

Species [ edit ]

These three species are recognized as being valid: ^[4]

• Pelochelys bibroni ( Owen , 1853) ? southern New Guinea giant softshell turtle ^[1]
• Pelochelys cantorii Gray , 1864 ? Cantor's giant softshell turtle ^[1]
• Pelochelys signifera Webb , 2002 ? northern New Guinea giant softshell turtle ^[1]

Nota bene : In the above list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pelochelys .

References [ edit ]

Works cited [ edit ]

• Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Bour, Roger (2011-12-31). "Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status" (PDF) . Chelonian Research Monographs . 6 . Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-01-31.
• Fritz, Uwe; Hava?, Peter (2007-10-31). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF) . Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-05-01 . Retrieved 2010-12-29 .

Further reading [ edit ]

• Boulenger GA . 1889. Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New Edition. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). x + 311 pp. + Plates I-VI. (Genus Pelochelys , p. 262, figure 69).
• Gray JE . 1864. Revision of the Species of Trionychidæ found in Asia and Africa, with Descriptions of some New Species. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1864 : 76?98. ( Pelochelys , new genus, p. 89).