Leith's Softshell Turtle

Leith's softshell turtle is a freshwater turtle of the family Trionychidae, endemic to peninsular India. It resembles the Indian peacock softshell in its longer, more pointed snout and the absence of a strong ridge on the inner alveolar surface of the lower jaw, and the young have four or more dorsal eye-like spots, which are smaller than in that species. Adults may reach a straight carapace length of 64 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is found in peninsular Indian rivers including the Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Bhavani, Godavari, Kaveri and Moyar. It preys on mosquito larvae, crabs, freshwater molluscs and fish, and sometimes feeds on small aquatic vegetation. The female lays spherical eggs, 30 to 31 mm across, in June.