Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell

Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell

Amyda ornata

Silhouette: PhyloPic

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Khao Yai National Park

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%

5 Verified sightings at Khao Yai National Park From 2019 to 2026
5 In 1 park
December Best month

About the Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell

The Southeast Asian softshell turtle (Amyda ornata) is a species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Asiatic softshell turtle (A. cartilaginea), which is now thought to be restricted to the Malay Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago. A 2014 phylogenetic study found both to be distinct species from one another. The Reptile Database and Turtle Taxonomy Working Group also consider both to be distinct species.

There are two subspecies: An undescribed subspecies is also known from Bangladesh, though the TTWG classifies it within A. o. phayrei. The species is found throughout much of Mainland Southeast Asia, and ranges from northwestern India south to southern Myanmar and east to Vietnam. Compared to A. cartilaginea, A. ornata is of an "arrow headed form" and has a "lighter base color and a more diffuse yellow spotting, which is 'usually restricted to the cheeks, there are no ocelli but black dots may be present on the carapace, the nuchal tubercles... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~10%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Bangkok 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%

Closest Relatives at Khao Yai National Park

No species of the same family or order lives in Khao Yai National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell in Khao Yai National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell sighting in Khao Yai National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 39th most-seen of the 46 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell in Khao Yai National Park?

November and December

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell in Khao Yai National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February and April–October, the lowest months. Those are among Khao Yai National Park's driest months, with about 35 mm of rain a month against 330 mm in September.

Where else can you see a Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell?

Only Khao Yai National Park, in our data

Khao Yai National Park is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.

Where does the Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Narrow-headed Asiatic Softshell is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Khao Yai National Park (5 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.

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