Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle

The Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra indica), also known commonly as the small-headed softshell turtle and the Indo-Gangetic softshell turtle, is an endangered species of softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to waterways and rivers of the Indian subcontinent. One of the largest freshwater turtles, it feeds on fish, frogs, worms, crustaceans and molluscs, and even the occasional swimming rodent or other small mammal. C. indica, like other softshell turtles, uses it flexible and leathery shell to dig itself deep into sandy lake and river bottoms; here, it patiently waits, with just its nose, mouth and eyes exposed, for potential prey to swim by. It will also ambush and chase its prey, depending on availability, the time of year, and size of the prey. In the past it was included as a subspecies of Chitra chitra, a species restricted to Southeast Asia using current taxonomy.