Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 85

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5287.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:78E23714-8973-4755-BC94-0A751D7D2B37

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7967042

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/88502B73-FFCE-B822-FF6B-47A07AD10A9A

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864
status

 

Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864 View in CoL — Native; Indeterminate.

Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864: 90 View in CoL , figs. 9, 10. Holotype: BMNH 1947.3.6.21–22 (formerly BM 1860.4.19.1444), by original designation. Type locality: “Malacca”, Peninsular Malaysia.

Cantor’s Giant Softshell

( Figures 10B & 10C View FIGURE 10 )

Singapore records.

Pelochelys bibronii ?— Gray, 1864 b: 91.

Pelochelys Bibronii ?— Gray, 1870: 92.

Pelochelys cantorii — Kumar, 2004: 1445.—Ramsay et al., 2007: 165.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 168.—P.K.A. Ng, 2009: 18.— Das, 2010: 177.—T.H. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2010: 119.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 463.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 168.—TTWG, 2021: 333.

Remarks. Omitted from Singapore’s herpetofauna checklist after Gray (1864 b, 1870) first reported it, the occurrence of P.cantorii in Singapore is known from only three specimens predating the early 1900s.There is uncertainty on the origins of a skull of P. cantorii that Gray (1864) examined at the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons (now Hunterian Museum). The skull was believed to have been collected in Australia, but Gray (1864) suspected it was obtained in Singapore. Kumar (2004) cited Das (1995) when listing Singapore as part of the distribution of P. cantorii . Das (1995) must have either referenced Gray (1864 b; 1870) or two specimens deposited at LKCNHM that were obtained in Singapore between the late 1800s and early 1900s. Since then, P. cantorii was included more regularly as a member of Singapore’s herpetofauna. Regardless of the uncertainty of these specimens, P. cantorii is considered native and extirpated from Singapore (Ng & Lim 2010; TTWG 2021).

Occurrence. Only known from three museum specimens predating the early 1900s. Likely extirpated.

Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated.

Conservation priority. Immediate priority, if rediscovered.

IUCN conservation status. Critically Endangered [2021].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): ZRC.2.140– ZRC.2.141 (no date).

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. No published localities.

Genus Pelodiscus Fitzinger, 1835 (1 species)

Pelodiscus Fitzinger, 1835: 110 , 120, 127 (type species: Trionyx (Aspidonectes) sinensis Wiegmann, 1834 , by subsequent designation by Fitzinger, 1843: 30; gender masculine).

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

ZRC

Zoological Reference Collection, National University of Singapore

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Testudines

Family

Trionychidae

Genus

Pelochelys

Loc

Pelochelys cantorii Gray, 1864

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P. 2023
2023
Loc

Pelochelys Bibronii

Gray, J. E. 1870: 92
1870
Loc

Pelochelys cantorii

Gray, J. E. 1864: 90
1864
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