Assam Roofed Turtle
CR

Assam Roofed Turtle

Pangshura sylhetensis

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

The Assam roofed turtle or Sylhet roofed turtle is a turtle species of the family Geoemydidae found in the Brahmaputra-Meghna drainage in (Assam), Terai Arc Landscape region of India and parts of eastern Bangladesh (Sylhet). It was formerly placed in the genus Batagur and the defunct genus Kachuga.

The Assam roofed turtle faces intense pressure from riverbank sand mining and agricultural encroachment that destroy the nesting beaches it depends on along the Brahmaputra and Barak systems. Dam construction and water management projects fragment its narrow riverine range and disrupt natural flow patterns critical to its habitat. Additionally, collection of eggs and adults for local consumption and the regional wildlife trade places direct pressure on an already small and geographically restricted population.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits slow-moving freshwater environments including oxbow lakes, seasonal wetlands, and quiet backwaters of the Brahmaputra River system in northeastern India and Bangladesh. They prefer areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and sandy or muddy banks suitable for nesting, typically at elevations below 200 meters.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Assam Roofed Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Assam Roofed Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Assam roofed turtle faces intense pressure from riverbank sand mining and agricultural encroachment that destroy the nesting beaches it depends on along the Brahmaputra and Barak systems. Dam construction and water management projects fragment its narrow riverine range and disrupt natural flow patterns critical to its habitat. Additionally, collection of eggs and adults for local consumption and the regional wildlife trade places direct pressure on an already small and geographically restricted population.
Where does Assam Roofed Turtle live?
Assam Roofed Turtle occurs in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Myanmar (Burma). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Assam Roofed Turtle?
The main threats to Assam Roofed Turtle are 5.1, 5.1.1, and 9.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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