M Zaheer Khan, Amtyaz Safi, Syed Ali Ghalib and Roohi Kanwal
Keywords: Peshawar Valley, freshwater turtles, distribution, population status, conservation
Abstract: A total of 2,791 individuals of freshwater turtles were recorded from 18 study sites, located within four districts of Peshawar Valley (Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and Mardan districts) belonging to the family Trionychidae, including the Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle (Chitra indica), Indian Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia hurum) and Indian Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata andersoni) and the family Geoemydidae, including Brown Roofed Turtle (Pangshura smithii), Crowned River Turtle (Hardella thurjii) and Indian Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tectum). Based on our present study data, Lissemys punctata (28.52%) and Nilssonia gangetica (27.41%) were common, whereas, Nilssonia hurum (14.76%) and Pangshura smithii (11.04%) were less abundant. Chitra indica and Pangshura tectum were found at levels that may be categorized as scarce (7.31% and 7.49%, respectively). Hardella thurjii (3.48%) was rarely recorded. On the other hand, Lissemys punctata (28.52%) and Nilssonia gangetica (27.41%) were common at all 18 sites sampled, followed by Pangshura smithii at 16 of 18 sites. The Spotted Pond Turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) was unrecorded during the present study, but this species had been reported from different parts of Pakistan by other authors. Habitat destruction, desilting of canals, harmful and unsustainable fishing techniques, such as dynamite explosion, electric-shocks and pesticides, and unprotected status of nesting sites were recorded as major threats to freshwater turtles in Peshawar Valley
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