CHELONIA AND BATRACHIA OF THE INLE LAKE. 



Bji N. Annandale, D.Sc, F.A.S.B., Director, 

 ZooIo(jical Survey of Ivdia. 



With Plate XX. 



CHELONIA. 



The fishermen of the Iiile Lalce recognize two species of Chelonia ; 

 to one they give the name Leil: Pu, to the other Leik Kambar. The 

 latter is evidently a species of Trionyx ; it is said to be round and flat, 

 to have no scales on its back, to grow to a large size and to have romid 

 black spots on its back when young. It may be Trionyx fhayrei, which 

 seems to be found at higher altitudes than any other species in Burma, 

 but we did not see a specimen. The Leik Pu is a local race of the widely 

 distributed terrapin Cyclemys dhor (Gray). I describe it here as : — 



Cyclemys dhor shanensis, subsp. no v. 



The shell of both sexes is somewhat elongate, but that of the female 

 is relatively broader than that of the male. The shields are also 

 broader, specially those of the dorsal row. The dorsal surface of the 

 male shell is flattened, while that of the female is convex. The whole 

 of the margin of the carapace is a little retroverted ; in front of and 

 behind the bridge of the plastron it is distinctly concave above. The 

 growth-lines are strongly developed on the shields. In a young adult 

 female the suture running across the outer part of the abdominal 

 shield and representing the plastral hinge is almost obliterated, being 

 represented merely by a faint superficial groove^ ; but the suture 

 between this shield and the pectoral is strongly marked. In a slightly 

 older male the suture between the shields is very nearly straight 

 and practically all external trace of the hinge has disappeared. The 

 whole of the shell is very dark brown or black with fine radiating 

 yellowish lines on each shield. These lines tend to disappear with age. 

 The head and neck are greenish black and are uniformally marbled 

 with dull olivaceous. The limbs and tail are blackish. The skull 

 resembles that of the typical form but the snout is perhaps a little 

 broader and blunter. 



Measurements of shells with callipers {in miUimetres). 



Total length 

 Breadth 

 Depth ... 

 Length of plastron 

 Length of bridge ... 



^ This groove shows more clearly in the photograph (plate xx, 

 on the actual specimen. 



