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INDIAN BLACK TURTLE
 Indian Pond Terrapin, Bengal Black Turtle
Melanochelys trijuga

John Fowler & Rachel Barnes

Distribution:- The species occurs in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, and the Chagos Archipelago, where it may have been introduced

Comments:- Carapace may grow to around 30cm (1ft)

Sri Lanka Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis), Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka
These are recognized subspecies with overlapping distributions

COMMON NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME

DISTRIBUTION

Peninsula Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga trijuga

India

Cochin Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga coronata

India

Bangladesh Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga edeniana (Status uncertain)

Northern and eastern India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh

Bangladesh Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga indopeninsularis

India, Nepal

Parker's Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga parkeri

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga thermalis

India, Maldives, Sri Lanka



Sri Lanka Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis), Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka


Sri Lanka Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis), Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis), Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka


Sri Lanka Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis), Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis), Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka



LINKS OF INTEREST

Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)
iNaturalist

Australian Turtles and Tortoises

RECOMMENDED AMAZON BOOKS
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Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia 7th Edition A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 5th edition Edition
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OTHER LINKS

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Updated April 21, 2026

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