Cane Turtle

The cane turtle, also called the Cochin forest cane turtle or Kavalai forest turtle, is a rare turtle from the Western Ghats of India. It was described in 1912 from near Kavalai in the Cochin State forests. Only two specimens were found at that time, and no scientist saw the species for the next 70 years, until its rediscovery in 1982. Females are slightly larger than males, and this smallish turtle does not seem to exceed about 13 cm in carapace length (Wikipedia, general species account).

The head is rather large, with a truncated snout and a hooked upper jaw, and the forelegs are covered in enlarged horny scales. According to local people who supplied the type specimen, it lives in short burrows underground and is indifferent to water nearby, unlike some relatives. It eats plant and animal food of suitable size.