Batagur Origins: where did turtles of the genus Batagur originally evolve and how do we know? Prologue A large river turtle powers its way smoothly against the current of a voluminous river. The temperate climate of its surrounds provide it a rich bounty that make its ability to swim in strong currents pay off. Its river is changing, slowly but surely, as the Indian subcontinent contacts and begins to push against the Eurasian continent. Rivers change course and a section that was previously near the coast is now far inland. Having evolved to deal with river mouth tides and strong currents, our turtle is now in a deep, upriver section. The environment is warm and forests abound. So may have been the evolution of the shared ancestor of the large river turtles of the genera Batagur and Hardella. Today these genera exist, from India, eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam; and south through Malaysia and Indonesia, to Borneo. They are strong swimmers, dee
Aside from having a completely made-up name* which sounds tough like a boxing dog's growl, what is so outstanding about this group of turtles of the genus Batagur ? I know I'm not the only one that thinks they're wonderful, they have a set of characteristics which make them remarkable to anyone. Firstly, their physical attributes make them impressive, to herpetologist and lay person alike. Aside from being physically spectacular, biological studies have shown Batagur turtles to display some marvelous adaptations to their lifestyle. Lastly, their chosen ecosystems and attributes of their tissues and eggs have made them of conservation interest, leading them to dubious distinction of being among the most represented genera of turtles threatened with extinction. Dr Shailendra Singh, one of India's leading conservationists is a fan: " I like all large river turtles, and Batagur is my favorite genus of them. Males in nuptial colors are unmatched! I believe