Wildlifeof Nepal
Red-crowned Roofed Turtle
Tortoises & Freshwater Turtles
Photo: (c) Daniel Z, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Batagur kachuga
Basic stats
Diet
Entirely aquatic plants
Habitat
Deep, flowing freshwater rivers in the Ganges watershed, with nests on land
Range
Historically central Nepal, north-east India, Bangladesh and probably north-western Myanmar
Clutch size
11-30 eggs, laid in March and April
Size
Females about 56cm shell length
Weight
Females about 25kg
The red-crowned roofed turtle is a large river turtle: females reach about 56cm in shell length and 25kg, while males are much smaller. Breeding males show red, yellow, white and blue on the head and neck. It lives in deep, flowing freshwater rivers in the Ganges watershed, eating only aquatic plants, and basks on rocks, logs and sandbanks (Wikipedia, general species account).
Eggs are laid on land in March and April in clutches of 11 to 30. It was described in 1831, formerly in the genus Kachuga, and its history range covers central Nepal, north-east India, Bangladesh and probably north-western Myanmar (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle eat?
- Entirely aquatic plants
- What habitat does the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle live in?
- Deep, flowing freshwater rivers in the Ganges watershed, with nests on land
- Where is the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle found?
- Historically central Nepal, north-east India, Bangladesh and probably north-western Myanmar
- How many eggs does the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle lay?
- 11-30 eggs, laid in March and April
- How big is the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle?
- Females about 56cm shell length
- How much does the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle weigh?
- Females about 25kg