Amyda Explained

Amyda is a genus of softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. It contains two extant species:^[1]

• • Amyda cartilaginea - Asiatic softshell turtle Amyda ornata - Southeast Asian softshell turtle

Both species were formerly considered subspecies of a single species, Amyda cartilaginea, but phylogenetic evidence supports both being distinct from one another. An undescribed species is also known from Borneo.^[2]

The fossil taxon 'Amyda' gregaria from the Eocene of Inner Mongolia has been tentatively placed in the genus Trionyx.^[3]

When it comes to the eating habits of Amyda, considering its multiple species, they are known for being opportunist omnivores. Their diet consists mainly of plants and fish.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Rhodin, Anders G.J. . Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (9th Ed.). . 2021-11-15 . Chelonian Research Foundation and Turtle Conservancy . 978-0-9910368-3-7 . Chelonian Research Monographs. 8 . 10.3854/crm.8.checklist.atlas.v9.2021 . 244279960 .
2. Book: Peter., Fritz, Uwe. Gemel, Richard. Kehlmaier, Christian. Vamberger, Melita. Praschag . Phylogeography of the Asian softshell turtle Amyda cartilaginea (Boddaert, 1770) : evidence for a species complex . 1005262127.
3. Georgalis . Georgios L. . Joyce . Walter G. . April 2017 . A Review of the Fossil Record of Old World Turtles of the Clade Pan-Trionychidae . Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History . 58 . 1 . 115–208 . 10.3374/014.058.0106 . 89732695 . 0079-032X.
4. Web site: Auliya . Mark . Dijik . Peter Paul van . Moll . Edward O. . Meylan . Peter A. . 3 March 2016 . Amyda Cartilaginea (Boddaert 1770) Asiatic Softshell Turtle, Southeast Asian Softshell Turtle .