species: Rafetus swinhoei |
Common
Name: Swinhoe’s
Soft-shell
Described by: Gray (1873)
Conservation
Status: Critically endangered: IUCN Red List 2006
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Habitat
of Rafetus Swinhoei. |
Habitat: Large river systems and associated wetlands and lakes
Range: Southern China and northern Vietnam
Key
Threats: Rafetus swinhoei has traditionally
been hunted for subsistent and local consumption.
The carapace and bones are often preserved for medicinal
use. Skulls are often maintained as trophies (Hendrie
and Pritchard, PC 2000).
Loss of traditional nesting areas due to mining of
sand or alterations in river flow resulting from dams,
dredging, and establishment of flood barriers may
also be a factor impacting nesting. (Hendrie,
PC, 2003).
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More
about Rafetus swinhoei:
There
are six living specimens of the species known to exist
(2004). Five are in China including one in the Beijing
Zoo, one in the Shanghai Zoo, one in the Suzhou Zoo,
and two in the Western Gardens of a temple in Suzhou.
The sixth living Rafetus is in Hoan Kiem Lake
in the center of Hanoi, Vietnam. |
Clutch
Size: According
to fishermen surveyed, approximately 60 eggs are
laid in each clutch. One individual that was killed
was reported to have 40 eggs inside (McCormack
and Hendrie, 2004). Heude reported that eggs
numbered 100-200 (Pritchard, PC,
10-04).
Nesting period: According to fishermen
surveyed, Rafetus nests at night or during
the early morning hours (McCormack
and Hendrie, 2004, Pritchard, PC, 10-04).
Diet: According to fishermen surveyed,
the stomach contents of Rafetus killed
included fish, crabs, snails, water hyacinth, frogs,
and green rice leaves (McCormack
and Hendrie, 2004) |
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Description:
Distinguishing
Features: Deep head with pig-like snout.
Eyes somewhat dorsally placed (Pritchard,
PC, 10-04).
Size:
Lengths of up
to about 109 cm and weight of approximately
120-140kg (Pritchard, PC, 10-04). 70cm in width (Pritchard in Farkas
and Webb, 2003).
Head
and bony carapace measurements were taken yielding
the following results for one specimen (McCormack
and Hendrie, 2004):
Head length: 22.5 cm
Head width: 11.8 cm
Carapace length: 58.6 cm
Carapace width: 50.7 cm
Male/Female: According to fishermen surveyed, males have
larger tails (McCormack and Hendrie,
2004). Pritchard noted that males are
generally smaller and have longer tails that
are thicker at the base and extend beyond the
margin of the carapace (Pritchard,
PC, 10-04).
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This
profile was last updated in August 2006
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