Cyclanorbis elegans
Nubian Flapshell Turtle

    • Habitat:
      Large turbid rivers
    • Threats:
      - Illegal trade
      - Incidental Fishing bycatch from fishing gear
      - Collection of eggs and nesting females for local consumption
    • Conservation Efforts:
      - Field and exploratory surveysProtection of nesting banks in southern South Sudan
      - Community outreach & engagement to prevent local consumption & trade of the species
    • Wild Population:
      - Suspected to be EXTINCT until 2017, because of no specimens recorded in the wild between 1980 and 2016 and none surviving in the zoos since 2012.
      - Population reduction of 99%
    • Endangered Status:
      Critically Endangered

Fast Facts

The Nubian Flapshell Turtle Cyclanorbis elegans is the largest freshwater turtle of Africa (over 80 cm of carapace length) and a member of the family Tryonichidae.

 

It is listed as critically endangered by IUCN (2018) and it was even suspected to be extinct until 2017, because no specimens were recorded in the wild between 1980 and 2016 and none surviving in the zoos since 2012.

Species Snapshot