Indian Soft-Shell Turtle is an Indian Reptile that bears a scientific name "Nilssonia gangetica", or Ganges softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle widely found in South Asia in rain fed area and the glacial rivers such as the Ganga River, Indus River and Mahanadi River.

Size of Indian Softshell Turtle
This vulnerable turtle that is Indian softshell turtle reaches a carapace length of up to 94 cm (37 in).

Feeding of Indian Softshell Turtle
Indian Softshell Turtle feeds mostly on fish, amphibians, carrion and other animal matter, but also takes aquatic plants.

Carapace of Indian Softshell Turtle
Indian Soft-Shell Turtle is identified on the basis of the structure of the carapace and plastron.

Costal Plates of Indian Softshell Turtle
There are eight pairs of costal plates, the last well developed and in contact throughout on the median line; two neurals between the first pair of costals; plates coarsely pitted and vermiculate.

Epiplastra of Indian Softshell Turtle
The Epiplastra narrowly separated from each other in front of the ontoplastron, which forms an obtuse or a right angle; plastral callosities very large, hyo-hypoplastral, xiphiplastral and, in old specimens are ento-plastral.

Skin of Indian Softshell Turtle
The dorsal skin of Indian Softshell Turtle is of longitudinal ridges of small tubercles. Head moderate; snout (on the skull) about as long as the diameter of the orbit; interorbital region, in the adult, considerably narrower than the nasal fossa; postorbital arch one third to one half the greatest diameter of the orbit; mandible with the inner edge strongly raised, forming a sharp ridge, which sends off a short perpendicular process at the symphysis; the diameter of the mandible at the symphysis does not exceed the diameter of the orbit. Olive above; back of young vermiculated with fine black lines, but without ocelli; head with a black longitudinal streak from between the eyes to the nape, intersected by two or three inverted-V shaped black streaks; lower parts are yellowish.

Length of Dorsal Disk of Indian Softshell Turtle
The length of dorsal disk of Indian Softshell Turtle is 2 feet.

Concentration of Indian Softshell Turtle
Indian Softshell Turtle are often maintained in the temple ponds of Odisha where they are considered sacred. They are widely found in Punjab, near Sutlej River, Indus River, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Malda District, Yumuna River, Himachal Pradesh, Gaya region of Bihar and many other places of eastern and northern parts of India.