Nilssonia gangetica
Silhouette: Armin Reindl · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), or Ganges softshell turtle, is a species of softshell turtle found in South Asia in rivers such as the Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi. This vulnerable turtle reaches a carapace length of up to 94 cm (37 in). It feeds mostly on fish, amphibians, carrion and other animal matter, but also takes aquatic plants. This turtle is listed in part II of Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and possession of this species is an offence.
The species is identified on the basis of the structure of the carapace and plastron. There are eight pairs of costal plates, the last well developed and in contact throughout on the median line; two neurals between the first pair of costals; plates coarsely pitted and vermiculate. Epiplastra narrowly separated from each other in front of the ontoplastron, which forms an obtuse or a right angle; plastral callosities very large, hyo-hypoplastral, xiphiplastral, and, in old specimens, ento-plastral. Dorsal skin of young with longitudinal ridges of small tubercles. Head moderate; snout (on the skull) about as long as the diameter of the orbit; interorbital region, in the adult, considerably... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Chitwan National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 3 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajshahi Zoo | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh |
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report an Indian Softshell Turtle sighting in Keoladeo National Park on a given day, based on 58 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 8 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February and September
In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report an Indian Softshell Turtle in Keoladeo National Park on a given day, against about 10% in July, the lowest month.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Indian Softshell Turtle sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Indian Softshell Turtle sightings, Keoladeo National Park has the highest daily chance: about 50%. Next come Chitwan National Park (Nepal, about 30%) and Ranthambore National Park (India, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Indian Softshell Turtle is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Keoladeo National Park (58 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
