Zambezi flapshell turtle

Zambezi flapshell turtle
Plastron with the peculiar hindleg flaps
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Trionychidae
Subfamily:	Cyclanorbinae
Genus:	Cycloderma
Species:	C. frenatum
Binomial name
Cycloderma frenatum Peters, 1854
Synonyms[1]
Cycloderma frenatum Peters, 1854 Cyclanosteus frenatus Gray, 1856 Aspidochelys livingstonii Gray, 1860 Heptathyra frenata Gray, 1864 Heptathyra livingstonii Gray, 1864 Gymnopus subplanus Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Amyda subplana Fitzinger, 1843 Dogania subplana Gray, 1844 Trionyx frenatus Gray, 1856 Dogania guentheri Gray, 1862 Trionyx guentheri Günther, 1864 Potamochelys frenatus Gray, 1864

The Zambezi flapshell turtle (Cycloderma frenatum) is a species of softshell turtle (family Trionychidae). Within its family, it belongs to the smaller and exclusively Old World subfamily, the Cyclanorbinae.

Geographic range

It is found in southeastern Africa, in the countries of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, and mainly in the Zambezi basin.

Conservation status

This turtle is becoming rare due to habitat loss.

The carapace is smooth and nondescript as in many Trionychidae

References

1. Uwe, Fritz; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology 57 (2): 314–315. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.

• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. Cycloderma frenatum. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 9 July 2007.