Reptile

Assam Roofed Turtle

Pangshura sylhetensis

Also known as Sylhet Roofed Turtle

Assam roofed turtles spend long hours basking on emergent logs and sandy riverbanks, retreating into deep pools at the slightest vibration or disturbance. Females lay small clutches of elongated eggs in sandy river shores between late autumn and early spring, timed around seasonal hydrological cycles. Heavy sand mining, dam construction, and incidental capture in fishing gear have severely fragmented their remaining riverine habitat across northeastern South Asia.

EndangeredFreshwaterReptile

1 / 3

—observations

—countries

—peak records

Critically EndangeredConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyAquatic macrophyte, Freshwater snail, Filamentous algae

Predators

Fishing cat
Mugger crocodile
Monitor lizard

ThreatsHabitat loss from sand mining and dams, illegal wildlife trade, and accidental drowning in fishing nets

HabitatsFast-flowing upland streams, slow river channels, oxbow lakes, and associated marshlands

Life span25–40 years

Classification

FamilyGeoemydidae
SpeciesPangshura sylhetensis

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice: Look for a high, strongly peaked carapace keel with a backward-pointing spike on the third vertebral scute.
Support conservation: Do not disturb basking or nesting turtles, avoid walking over river sandbars, and keep boat traffic slow.

Responsible observation

Observation distance: Keep several meters away from basking logs to avoid startling them into the water.
Nesting season: Avoid disturbing river sandbanks between November and March to protect delicate clutches.

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